Did You know?
- 60% of Vermont State College Staff Federation members earn less than the livable wage for a single person.
- 24% of Vermont State College Staff Federation members earn less than $12.50 an hour.
- Due to inadequate wages, Vermont State Colleges Staff Federation members are eligible for tens of thousands of dollars in public assistance in the form of food stamps, free school lunches and low income heating assistance.
Take Action!
Stand in solidarity with Vermont State College Employees!
Here is what you can do to support VSC Workers!
1. Sign the petition!
http://www.change.org/petitions/the-vermont-way-fair-contract-for-state-college-employees
2. Join the rally on facebook!
Add a comment on facebook to show solidarity with Vermont State College Workers!
https://www.facebook.com/events/543791365674657/
3. Read our fact sheet to learn more!
Vermont State Colleges Facts:
Staff Federation: 250 employees providing administrative and maintenance services for the Vermont State Colleges.
VSC Hiring Wage: $9.65
Staff Federation Median Wage: $14.74
Median length of Service: Nine Years
Joint Fiscal Office Livable Salary for Single Person: $15.74
60% of Vermont State College Staff Federation members earn less than the livable wage for a single person.
24% of Vermont State College Staff Federation members earn less than $12.50 an hour.
Due to inadequate wages, Vermont State Colleges Staff Federation members are eligible for tens of thousands of dollars in public assistance in the form of food stamps, free school lunches and low income heating assistance.
|
Civil Servant: |
Governor Shumlin |
Secretary Racine(AHS) |
Chancellor Donovan |
|
Salary: |
$142,563 |
$115,606 |
$197,676 |
|
Responsible for Budget of: |
$5.2 Billiion |
$3.42 Billion |
$185 Million |
|
Lowest Paid Worker Salary Ratio |
7.5:1 |
4.3:1 |
10.5:1 |
Vermont State College employees earn less than their counterparts in State Government and the Private sector for the same job:
|
Job Title |
VSC AVG |
VSC Earning Shortfall Compared to VT AVG for Occupation |
|
Accounting Specialist |
$34,067 |
-5.4% |
|
Administrative Assistant |
$28,077 |
-12.4% |
|
Custodian/Housekeeper |
$24,798 |
-6.2% |
|
Library Technician/Specialist |
$30,082 |
-5.2% |
|
Maintenance Worker/Technician |
$31,666 |
-14.7% |
|
Public Safety/Security |
$29,288 |
-5.3% |
|
Records Specialist |
$29,831 |
-20.5% |
|
Staff/Office/Operations Assistant |
$31,408 |
-18.9% |
4. Read Vermont State Colleges Bargaining Chair Janis Henderson’s Letter to Legislators.
Dear Legislators,
My name is Janis Henderson; I have served the students of Lyndon State College as a custodian for the past 15 years. I live in Burke, Vermont. I love my work, I am proud to contribute to Vermont student’s education and personal development. My coworkers and I have made sacrifices to help keep the cost of tuition down because we know how tough things are for these kids and their families.
Did you know that the starting wage at the Vermont State Colleges is $9.65 an hour? Currently 60% of the members of the Vermont State Colleges Staff Federation earn less than Joint Fiscal Office’s calculated livable wage for a single person. Many of my colleagues, single mothers and working families alike, are forced to accept public assistance or work a second job just to make ends meet. Negotiations with the Chancellor’s office have broken down because of their refusal to offer any serious solution to correct this injustice. In fact, the chancellor’s proposals represented a cut in total compensation, including intolerable cuts to our already meager retirement. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. It must be difficult for the chancellor, who earns nearly 11 times more than these low-wage workers, to empathize with workers struggling to keep a roof over their head and feed their families.
Imagine my surprise when I read State College Trustee and State Representative Jim Masland’s email to you suggesting that our request for fair wages and decent benefits is misleading. I have no idea what he is talking about. We are certainly grateful for the benefits provided by the VSC; however health insurance and tuition waiver do not put nutritious food on the table or help purchase school supplies for our children. We agree with Representative Masland that Vermont must do more to support the State Colleges, but if the VSC can’t afford the $80,000 necessary to raise the minimum pay to $12.50 and live up to Vermont’s values, how can they afford all these six figure salaries and golden parachutes?
I appreciate you are taking the time to hear me out. I hope you will support my colleagues and I in our struggle to earn a comfortable, dignified living.
Janis Henderson