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U. Senate supports living wage
Catherine Couretas
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: Front Page
The Miami University senate voted 22-19 Monday in favor of a resolution to support a living wage for Miami staff.
"I'm happy that this passed," said Mark Sawyer, vice president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). "I'm sure the union is happy with this too."
A living wage is the salary required to cover the basic cost of living, including housing and food.
The Students for Staff Living Wage Committee presented the university senate with a resolution at the Monday meeting. Graduate student Benjamin Kuebrich and senior Robert Winslow presented their ideas on how a living wage at Miami would cost much less than previously assumed.
Kuebrich explained that the Miami's human resources department approached the Associated Student Government (ASG) with the estimation that a living wage would cost nearly $15 million, with all hourly salaries increasing by more than $3 an hour.
The plan that Keubrich and Winslow presented will cost less than $4 million and increase all hourly salaries by less than $2 an hour.
Also, in a jobs-to-jobs comparison completed by the committee, Kuebrich displayed statistics from 2008 showing that Miami's starting salaries are one of the lowest when compared with other Ohio schools.
Richard Momeyer, philosophy professor and university senator, liked what the committee presented.
"The progressive change of institutions comes from the bottom, not the top," Momeyer said. "The students have done very good work in the research they're proposing to us. If Miami University does want to be a leader, we should lead by having policies that pay enough to every worker (so) that a family of two adults and two children with one wage-earner can meet those needs."
Student body president-elect Mike Scott and ASG senator Liz Bowe were concerned with both estimates since it was not made clear where the money was coming from to support the living wage.
However many university senate members immediately supported the proposal.
"I'm happy that this passed," said Mark Sawyer, vice president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). "I'm sure the union is happy with this too."
A living wage is the salary required to cover the basic cost of living, including housing and food.
The Students for Staff Living Wage Committee presented the university senate with a resolution at the Monday meeting. Graduate student Benjamin Kuebrich and senior Robert Winslow presented their ideas on how a living wage at Miami would cost much less than previously assumed.
Kuebrich explained that the Miami's human resources department approached the Associated Student Government (ASG) with the estimation that a living wage would cost nearly $15 million, with all hourly salaries increasing by more than $3 an hour.
The plan that Keubrich and Winslow presented will cost less than $4 million and increase all hourly salaries by less than $2 an hour.
Also, in a jobs-to-jobs comparison completed by the committee, Kuebrich displayed statistics from 2008 showing that Miami's starting salaries are one of the lowest when compared with other Ohio schools.
Richard Momeyer, philosophy professor and university senator, liked what the committee presented.
"The progressive change of institutions comes from the bottom, not the top," Momeyer said. "The students have done very good work in the research they're proposing to us. If Miami University does want to be a leader, we should lead by having policies that pay enough to every worker (so) that a family of two adults and two children with one wage-earner can meet those needs."
Student body president-elect Mike Scott and ASG senator Liz Bowe were concerned with both estimates since it was not made clear where the money was coming from to support the living wage.
However many university senate members immediately supported the proposal.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Brian Burke
posted 4/09/08 @ 9:53 PM EST
How about unclassified staff? I do not see any mention of this in the article. Many of these people are in the professional ranks (i.e. people with 4 year bachelor degrees) and are grossly underpaid. (Continued…)
Peter Citera
posted 4/13/08 @ 12:32 PM EST
Once again a feel-good resolution coming out of University Senate. Why does this not surprise me? Revenues are historically low so.... let's arbitrarily increase salaries $2/hour across the board! It amazes me how practicality goes by the wayside when a cause-titled bill comes up for debate. (Continued…)
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