Around 30 faculty, students and staff of the University joined the United Campus Workers of Alabama’s protest on Thursday evening to demand a cost of living adjustment for all UA employees.
The protest was held four days after UCW revealed a billboard they purchased reading, “where legends aren’t paid.” Protestors took turns addressing the crowd with personal stories and leading chants relating to unions and higher wages.
The minimum wage for full-time staff at UA has been $15 an hour since 2023, but part-time student workers are paid less. UCW is demanding that UA raise the minimum wage for all employees to $20 an hour and a $5000 flat increase for salaried employees.
Anthony Willing, a graduate student studying English, is this year’s union fellow, who helps UCW with organization and outreach efforts.
“Our first priority is a living wage, but there are a lot of other issues on this campus — a lot that intersect with not being paid what we deserve and not being paid enough,” he said.
Dani Blakely, a sophomore majoring in social work, is paid $10 an hour for her job on campus. She said she came to the protest to show support of the union and having a “livable” wage at the University.
“I’ve really struggled with keeping up with rent and affording basic necessities,” she said.
Similarly, Sophia Kyemba, a senior computer science major, said she is paid $12 an hour.
“It would make a great change in my life and make me not so stressed about finances,” she said about COLA.
UCW has addressed and delivered a petition of over 1,000 signatures to both the Board of Trustees and to UA President Mohler demanding a cost-of-living adjustment for all UA employees since last summer, according to Willing.
“We just want to show that we still have power, and every opportunity that we can take to demonstrate that we are. We’re going to keep doing that,” he said.
