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1/ We've heard a lot about equity from UVA these past few days. So let's talk about equity--specifically, equity of pay at this "great and good" University.
2/ According to CavDaily data, Jim Ryan's base pay as of July 2020 (so presumably after the 10% pandemic cut) was $695,250. That's before any bonuses and allowances, and doesn't take into account the free housing he gets from the University.
3/ Last spring, UVA's Living Wage campaign successfully won a $15/hr min wage for all full-time, benefits-eligible employees. An important victory, but an incomplete one,
4/ as the University left out student & part time workers. Currently, the minimum wage for student workers is $8.25/hr (to be raised to $9.50 next year). The max wage for undergrad workers is $18/hr. https://provost.virginia.edu/wage-authorization-academic-areas#:~:text=Students%20may%20be%20employed%20for,assignments%2C%20even%20non%2Dwage.
5/ This means an undergrad worker making the maximum student wage has to work 50 hours/week (impossible given hour caps) for a whole semester just to earn the same amount of money Jim Ryan makes in a single week.
6/ A prep cook for Aramark making $12.72/hour has to work *70 hours/week* for a whole semester to make the same amount of money Jim Ryan makes in a single week. https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Aramark/salaries?job_category=food&location=US%2FVA
7/ Jim Ryan makes more in a single semester than most PhD students make their entire time at UVA, assuming 6 fully funded years at $24k/year.
8/ To cap it all off, UVA is currently hiring for in-person student positions, including a Library Stacks Position ($8.51/hr) and a *Saliva Screening Student Ambassador* ($15/hr) who will direct traffic at testing centers. https://app.joinhandshake.com/postings?page=1&per_page=25&sort_direction=desc&sort_column=default&employers%5B%5D=66701&query=screening
9/ These are potentially dangerous, life-threatening jobs being offered at offensively low wages. While we and numerous other organizations call for hazard pay for trained custodial staff, UVA continues to recruit students to put themselves in harm's way.
10/ We don't doubt Jim Ryan and other executive admins work hard at their jobs. But so far, their dedication to reopening UVA this fall has landed 23 people in the hospital and gotten 840 people sick,
11/ 72 of whom are faculty or staff. They have worked hard to condemn their students for speaking out against the University and are currently working hard to develop a plan limiting free speech on the Lawn.
12/ They've been able to do this safely from home while denying hazard pay to their workers. Who makes UVA run? Who is more integral to the mission of a "great and good" university?
Facilities, dining, health, IT, and library workers; Resident Assistants; administrative staff and faculty; all of you don't just deserve more, you deserve better.
If you're a student worker at the frontlines of UVA's reopening, or are considering taking such a job out of economic necessity, get in touch with us, here or at ucwva@ucw-cwa.org--your coworkers have your back.
