WROC rally calls for COLA reform

Workers, students and professors gathered on the Frist patio yesterday afternoon in an appeal to University administrators to give cost of living adjustments to some University employees.

At the rally — sponsored by the Workers Rights Organizing Committee — speakers were cheered on with chants, songs and rattles of coin-filled "COLA cans." Employees, faculty and even a state senator voiced their support of the campaign, which argues that increases in living costs should be reflected in workers' wages.

The University Priorities Committee will meet today for the second time in a four-meeting-series to discuss the issue.

"Even if they don't fit it into their budget this year, we hope that Human Resources will include cost of living adjustments into next year's," said WROC leader Nick Guyatt GS. "We don't want them to say 'We can't find the money, so the issue is dead.' "

The rally was an effort to show the support for the campaign throughout the University community. Though WROC was allowed to submit a written report and to speak at yesterday's U-Council meeting, it was prohibited from speaking at the PriCom meeting.

Workers spoke first at the rally, some of them clearly angered by current University policy, which they believe is not fair to the lowest-paid workers.

Mary Wieland, a library assistant, expressed her frustration. "Maybe as individuals, [the support staff] aren't that important, but together we are what makes the University run day to day. And at the discussion of our wages, we're not even invited to the table," she said.

New Jersey state Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Ewing) captured the mood of the rally as she took her turn at the podium.

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"We know that we can't have two societies — one that has and one that has not. We have got to provide economic justice to our lowest paid workers," she said. "At this University, it takes the workers to make it excellent. It is not just the faculty, professors and students; it is the workers working in the libraries, dining halls, and in the dorms to make it run. It takes everybody."

University professor John Fleming also conveyed his support for WROC. "I have worked here for 35 years and am very proud of this University and most of the decisions that it has made," he said. "But we used to have the kind of community that was not stratified along social, educational and economic lines, and we need to get back to that."

The rally comes in the wake of a 1500-letter campaign organized by WROC to try to garner alumni support. After this second effort, WROC members hope they will get their message to University administrators.

A colorfully-clad "COLA-man" ran up at the end of the rally with dozens of "COLA" cans from University employees unable to attend the rally because of work.

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WROC members and supporters marched the bag of cans to Nassau Hall where, after singing a round of "Old Nassau," they attempted to drop off the bag in the Office of the Provost.

The office was locked and the protesters, flanked by two Public Safety officers, left the building chanting, "We will return, we will return."