Students for Economic Justice and unions in San Diego are honoring both UCSD and San Diego community workers on Library Walk during the first annual Worker’s Appreciation Week from Feb. 18 through 21. The event’s promoters are encouraging students to sign petitions that will be given to the city council in hopes of creating a living wage ordinance for all workers in the community. Promoters have set a goal of gathering 10,000 signatures for the effort by the end of the week.
The unions involved in the weeklong campaign are the Association of Student Employees, American Federation of Teachers, University Professional and Technical Employees, Coalition of University Employees, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
The ordinance being pushed by the Worker’s Awareness Week organizers will create a set wage for all workers. SEJ and the unions argue that the wages of UC workers right now are not adequate to support families due to the rising costs of living.
Campaigners for the living wage ordinance cite that over 12 percent of residents in San Diego, the majority of which are employed, live below the poverty line. The average living wage in San Diego is $11.64 an hour, but organizers say that many who work in San Diego only earn minimum wage.
Right now, wages among those who work in the UC system ranks 49th out of 50 compared to wages earned by workers at universities in other states, living wage proponents said. The only state that earns a lower wage is Mississippi. Although the numbers may appear higher than some other universities, the high cost of living in California causes UC schools to receive its low rank.
As a response to this, workers question why the university receives 5 percent in grants, but only spends 1.5 percent of it to pay its employees.
“”UC wants students to believe that we want fees raised to make more money,”” said Art Daly, who works in media services and is a member of UTPE. “”That’s the last thing we want. We want the money that UC already has that they owe us.””
Signs with the portraits of UCSD workers, particularly those who are seen by the organizers to be underappreciated and underpaid, line the grass off of library walk this week. “”This puts a face to the problem,”” said Eleanor Roosevelt College junior Renee Maas.
The five-day event opened with a rally and featured a film about the civil rights and labor movement. The organizers are also tabling on Library Walk, offering information for curious passersby while also allowing community members to send candy grams to workers. This particular campaign will conclude with a rally and march at noon on Feb. 26.
“”This is good and very kind. It is a friendly idea. They are understanding us,”” said Lorna Obrero, a housing services worker, about Worker’s Appreciation Week.
The campaign encourages students to respect workers on campus and acknowledge what they do. These include those who work in the Price Center, housing and dining services, and lab technicians. They are often overlooked and sometimes seen as invisible, organizers contend.
“”The university wouldn’t function without the help of all university employees,”” Maas said.
