Georgetown University students win living wage for workers 


The Georgetown Living Wage Coalition announced on its website on Thursday that it has won its three-year fight for a living wage for Georgetown University workers. The victory came after more than 20 students held a nine-day hunger strike, during which some students were hospitalized. 

Late Wednesday night, Georgetown President John DeGioia approved a wage increase, affirmed workers' right to organize without intimidation, and offered access to some benefits.

According to the Washington Post, DeGioia said he had taught some of the students in classes on human rights and had urged them to engage in social justice issues. "There is an irony there," he said. I wonder why it took three years to convince a man who was concerned about social justice that he should care about the working conditions of the people who work for him.

The Independent Media Center reported that seven of the ten demands of the students were met. DC Indymedia reported that among non-economic gains "Georgetown workers will now have access to grievance procedures and contract workers will have the same access to Georgetown community resources as Georgetown direct employees, including library privileges, English as a Second Language courses, Georgetown University Transportation Shuttles, and general financial planning information."

The official Georgetown University announcement of the new policy is available here: A Just Employment policy for Georgetown University.

Mike Wilson, one of the students on the hunger strike, was interviewed on Democracy Now! on Friday. He provided a description of the three-year effort. 

Posted: Sunday - March 27, 2005 at 11:51 PM          

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