Across the country today, workers are joining the struggle
for a living wage.
Why we seem so thoroughly convinced that universities
shouldn’t get money from the state and yet seem perfectly content to let those
same dollars subsidize the externalized costs of big companies is something
tragic.
In any case, the reason I bring this up is because UNCG
participates in this shameful low wage cabal. What I mean is that we aren’t all
poor struggling to get by, UNCG just has some employees that it pays a pittance
to and some who get fat raises at the same time.
For example, Tim Crews who has worked for UNCG for 19 years
is employed full time for $10 an hour. If minimum wage had kept up with cost of
living increases it would now be $18 an hour. So, we pay him only slightly more
than half of what the absolute bare minimum pay should be.
After 25 years of loyal performance, Alice Courts only makes
$23,762 a year. And she’s on the list of essential employees who must come to
work at UNCG even when hazardous weather causes others to stay at home and the
university to close.
Imogene Cathey, however, pulls in a handsome $85 an hour.
Jan Zink rakes in $137 per hour.
And they get to stay home.
UNCG has more than 200 full time employees earning less than
$15/hour. Adjunct pay is shameful too.
Nancy Maree has been willingly teaching our students in the
nursing program for 12 years and in return? She get $1,000. That’s all a class
is worth? That’s all her expertise and insight are worth?
And, of course, the enormous raises given to those who
already make more than they deserve continue to roll in. The execs get bigger
salaries while the rest of us have to deal with nothing or fight among
ourselves for scraps.
We are the workers.
We are the people.
We can do better.
