Dozens of students, faculty and city residents gathered in Rouss Hall last night to lobby for the rights of University employees who they described as being underpaid. The event concluded with a march to Carr's Hill to post employee testimonials and a letter requesting that University President John T. Casteen, III meet with 'living wage' lobbyists.
Casteen last night said he read the materials left for him and will present them to the Cabinet today.
"One matter not addressed by the materials left is the Attorney General's official opinion to the effect that state agencies lack the legal capacity to do as the demonstrators want -- that only the General Assembly has the capacity to change the terms under which state agencies contract with entities that do business with them," he said.
The event, organized by the Staff Union at the University of Virginia and the Student Living Wage Campaign, featured City Council Candidate Kendra Hamilton, author Barbara Ehrenreich and English Prof. Susan Fraiman.
"Basically, it is the employees and the students uniting for the living wage," SUUVA President Jan Cornell said. "There is still a living wage coalition here and there are people here at the University making $7.25 an hour -- unacceptable."
During the event, students read testimonials from University employees who requested to remain anonymous.
"I don't understand how U.Va. can let these people come in here and do this," Cornell said. "We still brought in another low wage payer. Everyone should make at least $9.00 an hour."
SLWC member Ruthie Yow said she hopes the event will cause the administration to put pressure on private contractors that pay employees $7.25 per hour.
"I hope [Casteen] will see that there is agitation on Grounds and that he will want to demonstrate at least ideological support with the minor gesture of meeting with us," Yow said.
According to Cornell, the lowest paid employees at the University work in food service and as housekeepers.
Frieman said she supported City Council's recent decision to raise the minimum wage to $9.00 an hour but emphasized that many University employees continue to work for less than $8.00 an hour.
"There is poverty in Charlottesville," she said. "Many are forced to work extra jobs to put food on the table."
According to Earnwright, author of "Nickel and Dimed," a book on living wage struggles, students must play an active role in the struggle for increased wages and benefits for University employees.
"Students are really, really important to the struggles of campus workers," Earnwright said. "You can't be fired. You are the customers -- you can get away with a lot the campus workers cannot."
Casteen said he appreciates the information that the lobbyists brought forth.
"Persons who favor the living wage movement, as I do personally, might be wise to present their views to their elected delegates and senators," he added.
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