Should ASUCLA employees be paid a living wage? Manuel
Barreto
Third-year, sociology
“Most places, especially fast food places, pay minimum
wage, and it really shouldn’t be any different for a worker
in Ackerman. At most places there are certain policies pertaining
to pay increases where workers get pay raises after so many years,
and it should be the same with ASUCLA employees. A living wage
shouldn’t be paid at the start of the job, maybe only after
time.” Mark Chen
Second-year, undeclared
“Workers here are not paid enough at minimum wage, because
this is Los Angeles and Westwood and the cost of living here is
much higher than the rest of California. Their wages should be
raised to match their cost of living, which is exactly what a
living wage is designed to do.” Shahrouz Ganjian
Third-year, biology
“Of course most people would say that the wages the
workers receive now should be raised to match their living costs to
a living wage. But I am skeptical, since there must be reasons why
they haven’t done it yet. And the workers always have the
choice of finding other jobs if they need higher pay.” Bonnie
Mun
First-year, biochemistry
“I think that raising ASUCLA employee wages to a living
wage would definitely be beneficial for workers. In general, if
workers, regardless of whether they work on campus for ASUCLA or
not, are getting minimum wage, it is not enough to support the
costs of daily living habits, especially if it is their only
job.” Daniel Khorramian
Second-year, psychobiology
“I don’t think workers are paid enough at minimum
wage, since they are working really hard and many have a lot of
expenses to pay. It would definitely be a good idea to increase
wages to a living wage with benefits, and if ASUCLA doesn’t
the workers should look elsewhere for jobs.” Nancy Lopez
Third-year, anthropology
“Obviously minimum wage is not enough to sustain our
standard of living, so employees are paid too little at minimum
wage. Any increase would help, even when most lower class families
have two incomes coming into a household, they could always use
more. It would be better to have a living wage, especially since
everyone deserves benefits.” Compiled by Kelsey Hicks/Daily
Bruin Senior Staff, Photos by Dennis Garcia/Daily Bruin