The number of signatures stands at 180 when Cursor speaks with receptionist Monique* on Monday afternoon about the campaign she initiated last week. “We’ve received many kind and heartwarming responses,” she says.

Not all 180 signatories provided a comment. Those who did shared sentiments like: strange choice, careless action, inhumane decision. ‘It reflects poorly on TU/e as an organization that wants to show that it values its employees,’ one comment states. A student writes: ‘Receptionists can play a connecting role for both staff and students. The position of these receptionists should be reconsidered.’

“We want to present the comments to the Executive Board and we hope it will make them realize that this is no way to treat employees,” says the initiator of the campaign. “This tender is not just about the purchase of materials like desks or printers or the like. It has personnel consequences. You’re dealing with people in need of income. And you’re just throwing them out on the street.”

She adds that this also raises concerns for cleaning and catering staff, mechanics, and others. “In two years, there will be another round of tenders for receptionist services and also for the employment agency that provides security personnel.”

Practice

While talking to Cursor, Monique does not lose sight of her responsibilities. During the 20-minute conversation, she hands out a campus card, gives directions, accepts a package, distributes a parking pass, refers someone to the IT help desk, hands over the key to the nursing room, directs a student whose coat has been stolen to the Security department to check the cameras, and tells someone who wants to borrow a cart that they need to go to the Facility Management Center.

Spirit

The team leader* of the 28 receptionists is working in Matrix on Monday afternoon. Last week, he sent an email to the HR advisor of service provider Spirit. From behind the desk at Matrix he says: “I mainly wanted to ask why the company didn’t choose to let the employees in question make a decision about continuing to work with Spirit themselves.” Last week, all 28 receptionists received a letter from this HR advisor saying that Spirit will not be extending any offers.

Among other things, the team leader wrote: ‘I find it disappointing, to say the least, that Spirit does not even bother to make our people a personal offer in which we can reach a compromise in terms of employment conditions.’

Following this email, there was a phone call on Monday afternoon, which has just ended. “The conversation did not lead to a satisfactory answer. I sense the following – unspoken – words in Spirit’s attitude: ‘Too bad, but so be it’. And that’s what we’re left with.”

It is not yet known when the signatures will be presented to the Executive Board. The receptionists are looking for the right moment.

*Names are known to the editors. The count stands at over 200 at the time of publication.