GIVE ALL UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA WORKERS A LIVING WAGE
Over the past 4 years, U.S. inflation has risen by 20%; however, UA faculty and staff salaries have failed to reflect this change. Due to the rapid and continued development of the downtown Tuscaloosa area, the average full time employee at UA now struggles to afford living close to the university, let alone childcare, health insurance, groceries, transportation, and other necessities. Furthermore, all graduate stipends are below a living wage, and range as low as $15,000, which is a poverty wage. In failing to adequately provide for its current employees, the university misses out on the opportunity to attract and retain as diverse and qualified a pool of applicants as possible in this competitive job market.
To: Stuart Bell and the University of Alabama Board of Trustees
We demand the following:
- An increase in the wage floor for hourly workers to $20 an hour.
- A $5000 flat Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) raise for all workers, including hourly staff, salaried staff, faculty, and graduate student workers.
- Minimum 3-year contracts for full-time instructors.
- Biweekly payment (twice a month) for graduate student workers.
- More summer assistantships and fellowships for graduate student workers.
- A clear path to full-time for part-time instructors.