As student workers at the Daily Grind/St. Mary's Campus Store, this job has been a main source of income for many of us. We are growing increasingly concerned about our future job security with the impending transition as Barnes & Noble prepares to take over operations. Unfortunately, our school administration has not been transparent with us about what changes, if any, are being planned for our employment here.

We are calling upon St. Mary's College and Barnes & Noble to assure us that our jobs will be protected under the new management. Specifically, we need a guarantee that the number of student jobs will not fall below 30, that a minimum of 289.4 hours per week will be available for student employees, and that the Daily Grind's current operating hours will be maintained to prevent a reduction in available work hours for student staff. We also seek assurances that current employees who are rehired will retain their existing pay rates, that opportunities for student leadership and advancement, including pay increases, will continue to be available, and that Federal Work Study students will remain protected in employment opportunities. These commitments are crucial for our financial stability, continued education, and ability to gain meaningful leadership experience while working on campus.

Additionally, we strongly urge that the involvement of Starbucks be prohibited, maintaining the current arrangement with vendors like Equal Exchange and Freshens Smoothies, which upholds ethical trading standards and benefits both producers and consumers. Switching to Starbucks products could hurt the established relationships and change the very identity of our workplace.

To preserve the legacy and soul of the Daily Grind/St. Mary's Campus Store, it is imperative that these measures are met. We urge the school and Barnes & Noble to reflect our concerns within their plans to respect and sustain our work environment. Please support our plea to secure our employment and maintain our community values by signing this petition.