The Hofstra Student Workers Coalition is taking a stand to fight for student workers earning minimum wage. The Hofstra Student Workers Coalition (HSWC) is a group of students at Hofstra University dedicated to improving working conditions on our campus. Currently, many students on campus are paid shockingly low wages when the minimum wage in Nassau County is actually $13. The current student employee minimum wage at Hofstra is $8.25 an hour. HSWC is currently circulating a petition that has already gathered over 500 signatures in support of this coalition. According to the official press release sent out by HSWC on Tuesday, Feb.11, the demands for this campaign are:
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All student workers employed by Hofstra University must be paid no less than the Nassau County minimum wage, which is $13. The funding from this wage must come from the university so that no jobs or hours are lost.
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A grievance process should be put in place for all employees to report job-related issues safely and should be run through a third party.
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An Open Workers Forum must be instituted to allow students to gather and discuss aspects of their employment openly and should be held through a third party.
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The establishment of a permanent student-run body to represent students employed by Hofstra University.
This is only the beginning of what HSWC plans to do. They have been working hard to create better work environments for Hofstra student employees. According to a statement from the University, “The New York minimum wage does not apply to students working at their own college,” and “These positions, for which hours are limited, allow students to focus on their studies and are not intended to be a students’ primary source of financial support.”
Hofstra makes a good point, but if you are going to raise tuition, housing, meal plan and book prices (which are all necessities to go to this school) over the years, then minimum wage should also be raised. College is not a time when students should have to be worried about how they’re going to buy laundry detergent or deodorant. College is supposed to be a hub for learning and growing. However, this is not usually the case. The University should be trying to lighten that load if they really want us to succeed. If not that, then at least to create a statistic of high graduation rates and GPAs. The least they could do is raise the minimum wage of what they are paying student employees to the legal minimum wage of the surrounding county.
On Thursday, Feb. 20, HSWC posted on their Instagram a slogan: No Pride Without Pay. This was accompanied by a caption that read, “It’s been 2 weeks since @hofstrasga [Hofstra Student Government] passed a resolution supporting our fight for an increased minimum wage & @hofstrau [Hofstra University] has stayed silent. Sounds to us like they’re trying to ignore us & hope we’ll go away – but we’re not going away any time soon!” HSWC is staying strong and fighting adamantly for the students of Hofstra University to get what they deserve. You can fight too! HSWC is currently circulating a petition that can be found on their Instagram account @hofstraworkers and as a barcode posted in multiple buildings around campus. They will also be holding their first Open Workers Forum on Wednesday, March 4 during common hour (11:15-12:40) in the Student Center Greenhouse. Come and show your support for the student workers and fight for an increase in minimum wage!
