University classified staff members earning a minimum wage will see a boost in their hourly pay rate come January, Chief Human Resource Officer Thomas E. Gausvik announced in a memo distributed to University managers this month.
Classified staff members include secretarial staff, lab technicians, technology personnel and custodians.
The current minimum hiring rate for classified salaried and wage employees will increase from $8.19 to $8.37 beginning Jan. 7 for academic division employees, representing an 18 cent boost, according to University spokesperson Carol Wood.
Beginning Jan. 18 Medical Center employees will see the raise in pay as well.
The increases will effect between 100 and 200 University employees, Wood said.
Colette Sheehy, University vice president for management and budget, said she hopes the wage increase will help the University better retain outstanding staff members who might be inclined to leave for more competitive pay in the private sector.
"The state has not granted a permanent base salary increase in three years," Sheehy said. "The private sector may not be giving big salary increases, but they're certainly moving their salary scale forward."
In addition to the base pay raise, classified staff members also may receive a state-mandated 2.25 percent performance-based pay increase slated to go into effect Nov. 25 based on October performance evaluations.
Charlottesville Vice Mayor Meredith Richards, an active participant in the local living-wage movement, said she is pleased with the University's decision to increase wages.
"It will benefit them and their families by providing a higher standard of living," Richards said. "Many University classified employees have had difficulty in the past making ends meet because their salaries kept them below the federal poverty level, and I'm delighted to see the University continuing to work to improve the wages earned by the people who keep the wheels oiled and the operations running."
Richards added, however, that the increase represents only a small step toward improving the lot of classified employees.
"Truth be told, it's a step, a very small step, in the right direction," she said. "I do think the University still has a long way to go. I think no less than $10 [an hour] would be needed for the average family to do anything but subsist in today's economy."
According to Richards, the city of Charlottesville implemented an $8 minimum wage in 1999 covering all city and public school employees.
President of the Staff Union Jan Cornell concurred with Richards and said she appreciates the thought behind the raise, but thinks that it could be larger.
"We appreciate the thought. I just think they could have done a little better," Cornell said. "$7 a week is a slap in the face in my opinion. It's ridiculous for a wealthy university like U.Va."
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