Students pass by maintenance workers, janitors and other employees every day without noticing. But today, they were very visible.
Members of the local 503 Service Employees International Union rallied in front of Johnson Hall on Friday. Classified employees from seven universities around Oregon are currently in a bargaining period with University Shared Services Enterprise while a contract is being renewed.
These employees include custodians, groundskeepers, housing employees, electricians and others that are all working for EOU, PSU, OIT, OSU, SOU, UO and WOU.
The rally focused on the creation of a contract that is inclusive of all seven universities rather than having seven separate contracts.
“We want all seven campuses to be treated fairly and equitably,” said Marc Nisenfeld, chair of the bargaining team.
Johnny Earl, custodial coordinator at UO and bargaining team member, said that this includes about 5,000 employees throughout Oregon. He said that about 1,250 make less than fifteen dollars an hour, which Nisenfeld said makes many of these workers qualified for food stamps.
Nisenfeld said that the bargaining team wants most of the current contract to stay the same, except for economic aspects.
One proposal to the new contract is to raise the lower paid workers’ wage to fifteen dollars an hour. Another proposal is adding a step to workers’ salary ranges so that the limit of how much income someone can earn is raised.
Earl said that changes to the contract would allow some workers to stop having to rely on public services.
“The rally was to remind people what we’re fighting for and give an update on bargaining proposals,” Earl said. “We’re all trying to get the same contract.”
Service employees want one united contract
Anna Lieberman
February 26, 2015
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