So, the privileged kids attending Washington University have taken it upon themselves to protest against the University for failing to pay their employees a “living wage.” Living wage, as defined in Student Life, is “the minimum pay rate necessary to keep an individual and his or her family above the federal poverty level.” According to Student Life, the St. Louis Alderman has determined living wage in St. Louis to be $9.79 an hour with benefits. I work in Olin Library, where some of my co-workers earn less than the St. Louis living wage. I currently earn 60 cents more an hour than the St. Louis living wage.
Now, it is a fact that Washington University, the richest school for miles around, with total undergrad tuition in the vicinity of $40,000/year, pays its employees about 10-20% less than other local institutions. St. Louis University pays employees in a similar position to mine about 15% more. Washington University does not give merit raises or bonuses. Instead, we receive an annual 3% cost of living wage increase that I guarantee will not cover the massive inflation we face as American citizens. Another wonderful perk of being employed by Washington University is that we are practically forced, as employees, to pay $350 a year to park in unguarded parking lots where our vehicles are subject to break-ins. ÿ
I have been told that employees who have breathed the word ‘union’ have been unexpectedly terminated. Recently, at a library staff meeting, the dean of the library expressed that we at Washington University Library are envied by public institutions because without unions, we are much more free and flexible to remain progressive. She continued to say that there will be quite a bit of “repurposing” of the library staff in the coming years, as books are becoming obsolete, and soon everyone in the library will be replaced by computers. The doomed just sat, smiling and nodding. ÿ
After the meeting, I attempted to help my co-workers see that they are being bamboozled by the administration. They nodded their heads in agreement with me, but will never make a change. They will wait for their impending doom with smiles on their faces. The people here are ruled by fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of being in a worse situation. The administration uses this fear and feeds off of it.ÿ
What I find amusing is that the students feel that they need to basically “save” the underprivileged university employees. They have camped inside the admissions office, attempting to convince any prospective Washington University students that they should not attend Wash U because of their labor practices. They have most recently begun a hunger strike in an attempt to show the University that they are serious. But, the administration is as unfazed as a parent whose child is throwing a fit about bedtime. ÿ
What makes the students think that a protest will change this? Do they really think they’re the chosen ones who will part the Red Sea for the hungry masses? The condemned must save themselves. They must have something or someone they believe in enough to make them save themselves.
I think the students protesting believe themselves to be making a difference by taking charge of the situation. But they are fooling themselves. In my opinion, they are probably helping enrollment. Pulling prospective students aside in an attempt to thwart their plans of attending the university only makes the prospective student think that Washington University is a progressive school and it becomes more appealing to attend. Washington University has already begun taking action against the protesting students. Clearly, the university has decided the game is coming to an end.
I know that my single act of protest of leaving this institution will have a similar lack of impact on the administration as the protesting students. If the workers could band together and fight their own battle, they might experience tangible results. Imagine not being able to check out a book from the library because all of the staff members refuse to work another minute until their demands are met. Wouldn’t that send a more active message to the administration compared to a few students who will merely fail their classes if they never leave the admissions office?