Although I was unsure of attending at first, the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) has become a guiding light throughout my undergraduate journey. It could improve on many things regarding its counseling procedures and its organization, but all in all, I wouldn’t have the privilege of writing this article if it weren’t for it. Their job fairs, counseling activities, and networking events have single-handedly uplifted my professional career, helping me find my way when I wasn’t even sure what major I wanted to focus on.
However, I can’t speak about its positives without highlighting the areas where it (tremendously) fails as well, especially as a student who works on campus.
Over one year ago, I began working at the university’s main library: La Biblioteca Lázaro. It was perfect. The library was a five-minute walk away from my faculty, which meant immediately after classes, I could clock in and get some hours in. I didn’t have to drive anywhere, change uniforms, or spend extra time commuting. Its convenience wasn’t the only plus; its flexibility was something I felt strongly about as well. By working on campus, my supervisor understood the fact that my studies came first, and this empathy—which I haven’t been able to find anywhere else—saved my GPA more times than I can count. However, after removing the rose-tinted glasses that only an impressionable new hire working at a “perfect” job at UPRRP can have, I started to notice the unpleasantness hiding beneath it all.
BOOKS AND BUILDINGS ON THEIR LAST LEGS
I noticed the poor working conditions immediately, but it wasn’t until a few weeks later that everything clicked: this place was being held together by sheer stubbornness and hope. And the books I worked with were no different. Some of them were donated, and while UPR management can’t control the conditions the books were kept in beforehand, they do have some control over the type of work they give their students.
Undoubtedly, many students have directly worked with dusty book copies that, more often than not, are riddled with mildew, mold spores, severe foxing, and apparent evidence of literal bookworms. Most of these manifestations, except for the first two, are usually harmless… except for when you’re also stuck in a poorly ventilated area, and there are over a hundred books with the same exact issues. Some book donations were in such severe conditions that, instead of throwing them out or consulting professionals, students were given a mask, latex gloves, and told to deal with it. As if cross-contamination weren’t a legitimate risk and extremely difficult to prevent.
One particular student knows all too well what it’s like to face these challenges daily. The third-year Poli-Sci student recalls her shock at seeing other people wearing masks and gloves to handle library books, and her surprise when she was told not to stay in particular areas of the building for too long. All of this to show that she wasn’t even properly warned about the risks of the job before accepting it.
Another student recognizes that although management tries to mitigate the situation, it’s not enough. “They do some stuff to alleviate the poor conditions, such as providing us with N95 face masks, or fumigating the space to get rid of the mold and fungi, which definitely helps out, but not enough to even out the poor air quality in the room, let alone other rooms which are in worse condition.”
ALMOST NON-EXISTENT HOURLY WAGES
There are two different types of students working on campus: Those on PET (the Federal Work and Study Program) and the Jornal Program. The main difference between these is where they receive their funding from. While PET is federally funded and determined through FAFSA, the latter is financed with institutional funds granted by the Legislative Assembly or through external funds given by donating agencies.
The origins of their funding cause the following problem: Students from the Jornal program get a considerably lower hourly wage for doing the exact same job as those on PET.
The federal minimum wage in Puerto Rico is $10.50/hour. And while most students under PET get paid two dollars over this minimum salary, Jornal students earn two dollars under it (for a whopping $8.50). Nobody can survive off of eight dollars an hour. Honestly, even the $10.50 doesn’t quite cut it. Over 40% of the Jornal students I interviewed have had the need to get a second job to compensate for the insufficient funds supplied by the program. And while working more than one job while studying has been normalized, it shouldn’t be! And it especially shouldn’t be a consequence of working for an institution that claims to look out for the wellbeing of their students.
The deteriorating facilities combined with the little reward, create a frustrating mix for all the parties involved.
WE’VE TAKEN ACTION. WILL THEY?
Any UPR student is well aware that this isn’t the first time the university has been criticized for underpaying its staff. However, while we usually hear from non-student personnel like La Hermandad, it’s important we know this happens to student personnel as well.
And you might be wondering, “Why work there then?”
The answer is simple. It’s convenient and practical. For many students, working at UPR is the most comfortable way to earn a living. Either because they don’t have a car, the resources, or even the time to go anywhere else. For example, the third-year Poli-Sci student noted that her supervisors couldn’t have been any more understanding while she recovered from knee surgery, giving her the time she needed to get back on track.
Just like how it was for her, working at UPR should make students’ lives a little easier. It shouldn’t be an extra weight or a source of worry for any of them. But most times, it is.
Jornal students have already begun to gather and demand action from the administration. However, all they’ve encountered have been closed doors. One student was told that Jornal students don’t count as actual employees, and, therefore, the minimum wage wouldn’t apply to them. Others were told that to fix the mold issues of the buildings, they’d have to close the entire library down, effectively leaving dozens of students unemployed. And while this would have numerous benefits in the long run, something (anything!) has yet to be done.
Without a doubt, this journey is far from over. Though I no longer work there, I can’t wait for the day my former coworkers are paid fairly and treated like the great employees they already prove themselves to be every day.