all
updates from LWAC | more
on the campaign at Vanderbilt
Living Wage in the country capital
of the world!
October 20, 2005 A
couple years ago, a janitor at Vanderbilt University
approached students about the living wage campaign at
Harvard and asked, "Why not here?" Thus, students
began the labor solidarity group LIVE
(Living Income for Vanderbilt Employees). Last year
LIVE had a major victory after a massive rally as part
of a successful campaign to raise the wage floor for
all unionized campus workers to $7.55/hour. But LIVE
and campus workers weren't satisfied - they're demanding
a living wage of $9.50/hour for all campus workers.
LIVE's demands seem pretty reasonable once you find
out Vanderbilt's Chancellor Gee has a salary of almost
$900,000!
Maya and I from LWAC were joined by Max from United
Students Against Sweatshops for a wonderful weekend
of workshops with folks from LIVE. This was the first
time LWAC got to run the full 2-day training we've created
- and it went really well! The students in LIVE had
an inspiring energy as they schemed about their campaign
strategy, brainstormed creative ideas for campus organizing,
and engaged deeply in discussion about group dynamics
and struggling with structural oppression. Look for
an update from the LIVE folks themselves on this page
soon!
xo Jack, jack@livingwageaction.org |