WROC's Response to 9/12 Administration Statement

On Wednesday, September 12th, Princeton University issued a statement saying that a) wages of workers on the biweekly pay schedule (low wage workers) will be brought up to or slightly above 'market' level "faster than promised" and b) the University will not increase its use of outsourced labor in "continuing services" if outsourced workers are not paid comparable wages and benefits to University employees.

 WROC is pleased with the latter part of this announcement, and hopes that the principle of not using outsourced labor will lead to and be used in a reexamination of currently outsourced positions, most notably the dozen or so buildings which currently are cleaned by janitors employed by an outsourcing company (Monarch) who receive no benefits, several dollars less per hour than Princeton University employees, and are un-unionized.

 However, the former part of the University's announcement is problematic and troubling.  Firstly and most significantly, this statement indicates that the University continues to advocate a 'market'-based wage scheme instead of one which takes into account the basic needs of workers.  In other words, the University continues to treat its low-paid workers more like numbers than like people.  WROC has consistently argued that all Princeton University workers should be paid a wage with which they can live without having to work multiple jobs (as is currently the case). Furthermore, instead of a process of arbitrary wage increases or purely performance-based increases, WROC has advocated and continues to advocate the use of a cost-of-living adjustment so that the real wages of Princeton's worst-paid workers do not decline (as many of them have over the past decade).  We should not let Princeton workers be pushed into poverty by sub-inflation wage increases.

 In light of the University's continued lack of engagement with WROC on the core issue of concern -- whether University worker wages should be set according to the 'market' or in a way that ensures the meeting of basic human needs -- WROC will continue its campaign to put public pressure on Princeton University to treat its low-wage employees with fairness and respect.