In an afternoon protest held at Johnson Hall on April 15, members of the Service Employees International Union said that they will strike if need be.
Protesters today fought for fair wages for Oregon classified staff. Proponents included the Graduate Teaching Fellowship Federation, undergrad students and members of SEIU.
Together they chanted “15 now” to support $15 minimum wage pay.
Several concerns were brought up during the protest. One was unfair treatment of classified staff. Proponents of this concern said that the university would not be able to function without these staff members.
Members of SEIU and Oregon Campus Operations staff member, James Jacobson, says that he’s fighting for fair wages even if the university claims it doesn’t have the money.
“They (UO administration) complains that they don’t have money, but they keep hiring people and giving them high wages of $100,000 to $200,000,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson referenced the annual wage of the newly hired president – currently set at $660,000.
“They have treated us like second class citizens,” Jacobson said.
Undergrad supporter Gabrielle Hanley spoke about support from undergrad students.
Hanley said fair minimum wage effects all workers at the university including student workers who are paying their own tuition and living expenses.
In addition to a fair minimum wage, speakers asked university administrators to remove a question on applications asking if the applicant has ever committed a crime.
Johnny Earl, part of SEIU bargaining team, said that including this question is just another way to keep the poor poor.
“I’ve made mistakes and it should not affect me,” Earl said.