Message from the VCU Living Wage Campaign

From email announcement:

The VCU Living Wage Campaign is holding a May Day rally, Wednesday May 1st in the VCU Commons Plaza. The living wage campaign wants students, workers, and educators to be more involved in the Universities allocation of the budget. We do not believe that any university employee (Service workers, Contracted workers, Adjunct professors) should not be paid a living wage.

In the recent Richmond Anti-poverty commission, the committee urged the cities three universities to pay their employees a living wage. We as students are here to see that through. As tuition paying students we allow this University to run, and each year we are paying more. We believe that we should have a say in where our money goes, and demand that it is used in what we believe are ethical ways. VCU Living Wage released a video last semester featuring an interview with Aramark regional manager Michael Martin. Due to Mr. Martin admitting to unacceptable working conditions on camera, Aramark and VCU has bullied and threatened the VCU Living Wage Campaign into taking it down.

We are asking students to show their support by joining us on campus and listen to African drums, spoken word, and speeches about the importance of a living wage in our university community. At the end of the rally we will personally deliver a list of demands to President Rao;s office and Aramark’s campus headquarters. Thank you for your time.