Tuesday, January 20

University workers deserve job “˜perks’


ASUCLA should treat employees to benefits even though they are technically temporary

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Our society rewards “skilled” labor with higher
wages, health benefits and comfortable working environments ““
but somehow these “perks” seem like basics every human
being should enjoy, regardless of their job descriptions.

On Friday, the Associated Students of UCLA board of directors
will discuss campus workers’ issues, which were recently
brought to the forefront of debate by a collective student-worker
awareness effort. Last Friday, the group marched across campus to
draw attention to low wages, the absence of sick and vacation days,
and respect and clout with supervisors.

Currently, university workers are subcontracted through a temp
agency, and ASUCLA is therefore not required to extend benefits or
leave time to them. But these workers are putting in long hours,
and are engaged in university business ““ they deserve to be
appropriately rewarded for their work.

It is imperative that Patricia Eastman and the rest of the
ASUCLA board listen carefully to what workers have to say. Even
though ASUCLA is a nonprofit, independent body, its working
conditions should still be held to the same standards as the
university’s. If workers are displeased with their current
situation, Eastman and her colleagues must do their best to ensure
they address workers’ concerns attentively and justly ““
when a person has a job, they shouldn’t be living in
financial or personal poverty.


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