UVa Students Fight for Equality for Service Workers

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Updated: 9:10 AM Feb 2, 2012 UVa Students Fight for Equality for Service Workers Several University of Virginia students gathered outside of the Rotunda Wednesday afternoon to fight for service workers to receive living wage. Posted: 7:34 PM Feb 1, 2012 Reporter: Jessica Jaglois Email Address: jessica.jaglois@newsplex.com

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February 1, 2012

Several University of Virginia students gathered outside of the Rotunda Wednesday afternoon to fight for service workers to receive living wage.

The group is asking the University to provide a wage that's competitive with the City of Charlottesville service and maintenance workers. The group also wants to make the city aware of poverty issues in the area.

"UVa is the biggest employer [in the area], so even if these people were to move on, would that then say that the people who come in don't deserve a living wage either?" asked Nelson Lopez, of the Latino Student Alliance.

The group says as part of celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy of wanting equality for race and gender, they want equality in the American workforce.

Latest Comments

Posted by: charlottesvillian on Feb 2, 2012 at 09:34 PM

The mean spirit of some of these comments makes me sad. The money needed to pay a living wage is less than one tenth of one percent of the University's annual budget. Furthermore, a living wage is around 22,000 a year. That's hardly asking a lot.

Posted by: Tee on Feb 2, 2012 at 05:35 PM

They do plenty. They make less than the people hired after them. UVA is known for not paying equally. The medical staff is one of the biggest pay discrimination. The statement that there is a shortage of nurses, that's because they don't get paid enough. They moved on to other positions outside the nursing field.

Posted by: Freedom on Feb 2, 2012 at 05:05 PM

So easy to be willing to give away other people's money. Those demonstrating should open their wallets and give to those who they think need more money. Either do that or start your own business and pay your employees whatever you think they should be paid.

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