Workers' wages rise ahead of schedule

The University announced this week that it has succeeded in increasing workers' wages months ahead of the schedule planned last spring.

As of Sept. 3, the University directed funds in excess of $1 million to the salaries of all non-union non-exempt workers to bring them up to or above market average as dictated by relevant market surveys.

The campaign to raise wages was initiated by the student, faculty and staff group WROC — Workers' Rights Organizing Committee — last year. After several rallies and presentations last semester, the matter was referred to the University Priorities Committee.

The committee reviewed the matter and made a recommendation to former President Shapiro who committed to raise wages, allocating $400,000 from the President's Fund last spring.

Shapiro had hoped to close the gap between University wages and the market average by one third. Over the summer, however, the cost was recalculated, raising the response level to bridging the gap by one half.

Not only were individual wages raised, but the number of workers affected was also increased. Now 1,600 workers will benefit from this wage increase.

"We are very pleased that we were able to find the funds," said Vice President for Finance and Administration Richard Spies GS '72. "It's a very good outcome."

More information was gathered over the summer, allowing for a substantial increase and plans to eliminate the remaining gap completely in the next year's budget, according to President Tilghman.

"It is very important that the University pays all of it workers fairly," said Tilghman. "We have a uniform agreement and we should hold to that standard."

Tilghman also emphasized WROC's important role in the campaign.

"We are indebted to the students who brought to our attention these inequities," said Tilghman. "A system has been put in place that will monitor these kinds of things more closely in the future."

In addition to raising wages to or above market average, defined as 101 percent of the average salary, the funding will be used to provide fringe benefits to more University workers.

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Benefits such as health insurance will now be extended to staff engaged in "casual labor" — workers employed for short periods of time without commitment and without fringe benefits.

Currently, only the non-union, non-exempt, bi-weekly paid workers will be affected. But once the union discussions are concluded, the changes will be applied to the University's union workers as well. These include clerical, service, maintenance and library staffs.