The Living Wages campaign finished off the year with an unprecedented event designed to raise awareness and appreciation of Facility Services workers on campus.
Members of the Living Wages campaign asked students to donate their remaining “swipes” from their meal plans so custodial workers could eat a free lunch Friday at Highland or Pentagon Dining Halls.
The Living Wages campaign is a cause rooted in the Student Equality Commission’s effort to raise the wages of custodial and food service workers above the poverty level, which is $18,500 per year.
Between the two dining halls, about 100 custodial workers were swiped in from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with swipes donated primarily by Living Wages campaign members.
Samori Camara, campaign organizer and graduate student, said some students who were unaware of the designated “swipe day” found out about it as they went to eat their lunches and donated some of their last meals to the cause.
Camara said campaign members advertised for “swipe day” the previous week by passing out fliers and talking to Facility Services workers.
Camara said the purpose of the event was to continue building a relationship with the workers.
“I’m just glad they came out,” Camara said. “I thought some of them might still be kind of skeptical about the students being serious. But it’s not just about the swipes, it’s about a living wage.”
Laura Grantham, campaign member and English sophomore, said “swipe day” showed students that the custodial workers aren’t eating for free. She also said the event showed the workers the students’ appreciation for their work.
“When it’s thundering and raining, they’re here. When there’s a hurricane outside, they’re here,” Camara said. “We need to treat them like the essential workers that they are.”
Custodial workers eating their free lunches Friday said they were pleased with the intentions of the student campaign.
“They’re doing a good job. I just hope it comes true,” said Alzina Pierson, a Residential Life custodian who said she doesn’t think the University pays her enough money.
Lois Isaac, another Residential Life custodian, said she wonders if the fight will continue into the fall semester.
“Once school is over, who will keep fighting?” Isaac asked.
One custodial worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said she would like to join the fight, but she is afraid of losing her job.
But Helen Thompson, Residential Life custodian, said she is in full support of the movement and would be willing to sign her name to the petition without fear of penalization.
Thompson said she thinks she isn’t making enough money for the amount of work she does.
“Not enough for the effort I put in,” Thompson said of her wages. “I clean the kids’ bathrooms just like I clean my bathroom at home.”
The Living Wages campaign may be gaining support from other universities across the country.
Seventeen students were arrested on April 15 at the University of Virginia for staging a four day-long sit-in in their university president’s office, protesting the “unlivable” wages of their school’s lowest paid employees.
But some students said they think the Living Wages campaign and “swipe day” are inappropriate causes.
Brett McMann, mechanical engineering freshman, said he often sees University workers outside of dining halls asking students for their extra meals and doesn’t think they should be rewarded for that behavior.
“It reminded me of the beggars outside of the Chimes,” McMann said. “I don’t have a problem swiping them in, but I think it’s not appropriate to have your own employees standing outside your own dining hall begging.”
McMann said he doesn’t think it should be a student’s responsibility to provide meals for the workers, and the University should work out a deal.
“I think they need to work some deal out with the dining halls, like maybe the workers get half-off for a meal if they don’t already,” McMann said.
 
Daily Reveille contributing writer Parker Wishik contributed to this report.
 
Contact Rebekah Allen at [email protected]