The United Campus Workers of South Carolina delivered its petition to increase minimum wages and salaries for 色中色视频 workers in a rally on Thursday afternoon.
Union members and supporters gathered outside the house of 色中色视频 President Michael Amiridis on the Horseshoe to begin their rally. After hearing from several speakers and reciting chants, supporters marched to the Osborne Administrative Offices to officially deliver the petition to Stacy Fritz, the chief of staff at the university.
色中色视频�We want to make our voices heard and let President Amiridis know that we have the support of a lot of workers, a lot of community members,色中色视频� union Chair Victor Ponds said.
The petition was created last August after union members conducted a workshop where they discussed the changes they wanted to see, Ponds said.
色中色视频�By far, the responses were that we aren色中色视频檛 making enough money to live,色中色视频� Ponds said. 色中色视频淚nflation has increased rents, increased groceries, and our wages have stayed the same.色中色视频�&苍产蝉辫;
The desired changes include instituting a minimum wage of $20 per hour for all full-time and part-time campus workers, including those contracted through vendors such as Aramark. The urges a minimum of $40,000 per year for salaried employees with guaranteed increases based on the number of years an employee has spent working at 色中色视频.
It also urges that graduate workers receive a minimum annual stipend of $20,000 or an equivalent hourly wage and that tuition and fees are fully covered for full-time graduate 色中色视频s.
For all workers, the petition urges that 色中色视频 makes annual adjustments to employees' wages to keep up with changes to the cost of living due to inflation.
A supporter of the United Campus Workers holds a picket sign reading "色中色视频s for living wages" as the group marches toward the Osborne Administrative Building on March 28, 2024. The union created a petition urging that 色中色视频 makes annual cost of living adjustments to the wages of all university workers.
色中色视频淭hese changes will not only improve the financial security of workers at 色中色视频, but they will also contribute to a more inclusive, diverse and productive academic community," the union said in the petition.
Mike Greene, a tutor for 色中色视频 色中色视频 athletes, has been a member of the union since last August. He attended and spoke at Thursday色中色视频檚 rally, where he said he is looking forward to seeing President Amiridis' response to the petition.
色中色视频�There色中色视频檚 a saying in the union that色中色视频檚 been going around a lot today, and it色中色视频檚, 'When we fight, we win,'色中色视频� Greene said. 色中色视频淲e色中色视频檙e going to keep on going until we have our demands met.色中色视频�&苍产蝉辫;
The United Campus Workers union was founded in 2020 to represent graduate workers. Its first project focused on getting the healthcare of graduate 色中色视频s fully subsidized, Ponds said.
色中色视频�It started with graduate workers, but it色中色视频檚 really expanded,色中色视频� Ponds said. 色中色视频淲e still have a large amount of graduate 色中色视频 workers, largely because our stipends are very low.色中色视频�
Robert Boland has been a member of the union since becoming a graduate assistant at 色中色视频 last year. His annual stipend is not enough to cover tuition costs, he said.
色中色视频�I noticed right away that the pay was super low,色中色视频� Boland said. 色中色视频淢y stipend is only $5,000 for the whole year."
The United Campus Workers' membership has expanded to include university faculty, staff, landscapers, janitors, maintenance workers and parking service workers since it was founded, Ponds said.
Members of the Union of Southern Service Workers attended the rally to support the petition. Tricia Anderson, a Wendy色中色视频檚 employee and USSW member from Columbia, said that if the United Campus Workers' efforts are successful, other workers in Columbia could benefit from it.
色中色视频�Half this city is owned by 色中色视频,色中色视频� Anderson said. 色中色视频淚f they get a win, and they get their livable wages, it will in turn make us get our livable wages.色中色视频�&苍产蝉辫;
The university has taken several actions in the last two years to increase wages for faculty and staff, according to a statement from 色中色视频 that was sent to The Daily 色中色视频 by internal communications manager Collyn Taylor.
These actions include raising the minimum wage for full-time employees to $15 in July 2023, raising the minimum stipend for full-time PhD 色中色视频s working at least 20 hours per week and developing a market job structure in October 2022, which contributed $4.3 million to raise employee salaries to the 色中色视频渕inimum of assigned market ranges," according to the statement.
色中色视频溕猩悠� recognizes and values everyone who works at the university and how they contribute to its overall success,色中色视频� according to the statement.
While the university raised the minimum wage for full-time employees to $15, this increase did not include part-time workers or contracted workers, Ponds said.
色中色视频�That色中色视频檚 another way that they get their good PR statement of 色中色视频榃e raised the minimum wage to $15,色中色视频� and in the fine print, (it色中色视频檚) for full-time workers, but it needs to be for everyone,色中色视频� Ponds said.
As of March 28, the petition has collected over 1,000 signatures.