The University employs more than 1,500 facility service workers who keep the University operational, functional and clean. The largest group of facility service workers is made up of more than 300 custodians – most of whom receive a salary below the national poverty level.
The Student Equality Commission began a campaign to promote raising “living wages” for all facility service workers.
Samori Camara, an SEC member who started a living wages campaign and African American Studies graduate student, said about 60 percent of facility service workers, whom members had spoken with, were forced to work two jobs “which keeps them from being able to be at home with their kids.”
A living wage is defined as a wage that would put one at the poverty level or above, $18,500 per year for a family of four. A full-time worker receiving an hourly wage of $8.89 would make $18,500 in a year.
Camara said he would like to see facility service workers make $9.50 per hour with benefits or $11 per hour without benefits.
Dave Hurlbert, director of compensation and employment for Human Resource Management, said entry-level custodians are hired at wages between $6 and $6.24 an hour and are capped at $9.75.
Mary Smart, custodial supervisor, said she is a single mother of three children.
She said she has worked for the University for more than 15 years and receives $9.50 per hour.
While Smart said her children are adults now, she said it used to be difficult for her to provide for her family.
“I’d like to receive a little more money to be able to take care of myself,” Smart said.
The SEC has passed around a petition asking for wages to at least match the poverty level and has received more than 600 names so far, Camara said.
Paul Favaloro, Facility Services director, said he understands the concerns of students and facility service workers.
“People ought to be concerned,” Favaloro said. “You want to pay the best wages to attract and maintain the best workers.”
Favaloro said rates for custodial workers are set by the Department of State Civil Service, which is largely out of the University’s control.
“We’re not a sweat shop. We’re under budget constraints,” Favaloro said.
Hurlbert said the wage scale established by Civil Service for a custodian is $5.47 to $9.75 per hour with an annual merit pay raise of 4 percent.
Hurlbert said the 4 percent annual raise is a concern because “it takes quite awhile” to make a significant salary.
He said the University has taken steps to combat low wages for custodial positions by petitioning Civil Service for the authority to pay a higher starting wage.
Hurlbert said custodians who work night shifts receive an additional dollar per hour.
Hurlbert said before Hurricane Katrina, his department was discussing raises for custodians, but recent budget cuts have slowed the process.
He said he thinks $9.50 per hour to start is too high, but he said raises will be necessary to maintain competitive in the labor market.
“Due to the current labor market, sometime in the next few months we’re going to have to look seriously at raising starting pay to hire a competent work force,” Hurlbert said. “I agree with the spirit of the proposal. LSU should try to pay fair market wages.”
Hurlbert said aside from custodians, he thinks facility service workers are paid well.
He said the starting pay for an electrical technician is $17.64 per hour and for a landscaper, it is $9.10.
Hurlbert said because the University has limited control over the wages custodians receive, they try to provide workers with numerous benefits such as health insurance, tuition exemptions, GED tutorials, financial planning help and classes to improve basic English and math skills.
Camara said he thinks the tuition exemption policy should be revised because it only allows workers to take one class per semester.
“That would take you a very long time to get a degree,” Camara said.
He said many custodians cannot afford to have the money taken out of their checks to pay for the insurance benefits.
Hurlbert said the workers receive their health insurance benefits through a statewide agency, and he recognized that many workers are unable to afford it.
“There are problems,” Hurlbert said. “Even with two jobs, many can’t afford health insurance.”
 
Contact Rebekah Allen at [email protected]