University of California raises minimum wage to $15 (Video)

By Ethan Stoetzer, Rowan University, Glassboro

While fast food workers successfully organized and pushed legislation calling for action on a $15 minimum wage in New York on July 22, 2015, the University of California has become the first public school in the nation to commit to a wage increase.

On July 22, the 238,000-student university system joined pioneering municipalities mandating that the wages of all employees of the university’s 10 campuses, five medical centers and three national labs — both direct and service contract employees — be raised to $15 per hour over the next three years, according to a university press release.

The estimated impact will be on 3,200 university employees, who are primarily students, says Director of Media Relations Dianne Klein. Work-study students will not be impacted by the university wage increase. Nor will students who work less than 20 hours per week.

Klein says 150 unionized employees of the university already make just below the $15 wage mark and those who work under 20 hours per week already earn above the federal minimum wage — set in 2009 to $7.25 per hour — at $9 per hour, with the wage in California set to increase to $10 by Jan.1, 2016. On Oct. 1 2015, the university wage will rise to $13 per hour, and will rise by $1 ever subsequent Oct. 1, until the wage is reached in 2017.

At over 195,000 employees, the University of California is the state’s third largest employer behind the state and federal government, outnumbering the state’s largest private-sector employees. According to the UC 2014-15 Budget for Current Operations, one out of every 46 jobs in California — or 430,000 jobs — is supported by the university (including contracted workers). The university attracts approximately $8.5 billion in annual funding from outside the state. The new initiative, called The Fair Wage/Fair Work Plan, also institutes safeguards for workers employed by university-hired contractors or sub-contractors.

Klein says employees have previously brought up concerns about their treatment during projects. While Klein was unable to note any specific incidences, she says they have helped push for more accountability on behalf of contractors and the university.

Contractors will now have to pay employees at the university minimum or state wages — whichever is higher at the time — for new contracts or renewals. A new phone hotline is currently being established for employees of contractors to report mistreatment on the job.

“The president [Janet Napolitano] believes strongly that people and families need to make a living wage,” Klein says.

According to the press release, the cost of the increased wages will be covered by “non-core” funds that come from auxiliary services such as bookstores and food service. The revenue from these sources is separate from tuition, fees and state resources.

Ethan Stoetzer is a student at Rowan University and a summer 2015 USA TODAY Collegiate Correspondent.

[Source]: USA Today