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UMW to pay workers more

University president reverses his earlier decision to wait until March to review a proposed increase.

Date published: 1/27/2006

By MELISSA NIX

University of Mary Washington President William Anderson has reversed his earlier decision to wait until March to review a proposed pay increase for the school's lowest-paid workers, according to a press release from the university.

The university’s lowest-paid workers will receive raises between March 10 and March 20 that will bring their salaries in line with Stafford County employees in comparable jobs.

Employees now making $8.72 an hour will get $9.18 an hour. This new hourly rate is equivalent to $19,094 annually for full-time employees.

The University also will fund the reclassification plan of entry-level grounds workers. A review of current duties assigned to entry-level grounds workers supports a position reclassification and new starting pay rate of $10.67 an hour or $22,188 annually.

Members of the Living Wage Coalition, a group of 10 to 15 student activists have kept the pressure on school officials to pay workers a living wage. They circulated petitions, demonstrated on campus and even took over the vice president’s office last spring to draw attention to their cause.

For more on this story, read Saturday's Free Lance-Star.

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Date published: 1/27/2006