KSG Students Endorse Living Wage Campaign

This past weekend the Kennedy School of Government (KSG) became the second Harvard graduate school to join the Living Wage Campaign, which calls for a minimum wage of $10 per hour for all Harvard employees.

Last year, undergraduates spearheading the campaign garnered the endorsement of the Graduate School of Education. About 1,000 students and 50 faculty members also signed onto the initiative, including University Professor Cornel R. West '74, who spoke at a rally last spring.

And now the president of KSG's student body has sent a letter to President Neil L. Rudenstine informing him of a resolution the student government passed endorsing the Living Wage campaign.

"As the wealthiest university in the world, Harvard can easily ensure that all employees are able to live and raise families in the communities in which they work," the resolution reads.

But the measure did not pass unanimously. When it came up for a vote, some KSG students voiced concerns about the price of a living wage. Some students worried that Harvard would be forced to pass on the cost of a wage increase to students.

"In response, I countered that we as students should endorse the notion in the spirit of sacrifice," wrote KSG student body president John B. Maggiore in his letter to Rudenstine.

Joe Wrinn, University spokesperson, declined to comment on the KSG resolution because Harvard is in the midst of studying the living wage demands.

Last spring, the University released an unprecedented "snapshot" of Harvard workers during the week of Feb. 20. The report revealed that out of a total of 13,113 regular Harvard employees, only 358, just 2.7 percent, were paid less than $10 an hour.

Of 1,361 "casual" workers, who are hired for part-time or temporary employment, 669 or 49 percent received less than $10 an hour. However, only 173 of those employees worked more than 15 hours a week.

After releasing the report, Rudenstine announced that he would create a faculty task force to study Harvard's labor policy. According to Wrinn, the University will not take action until the task force has completed its study.

An employee at a Harvard-owned restaurant at the KSG agreed with the student government's decision to endorse the Living Wage Campaign.

The employee, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed concern about low wages not only because of Harvard's wealth, but also because of the restaurant's high prices.

"I find they should pay people [more] because they make a lot of money here," the employee said.

A piece of toast there sells for 55 cents, for example, when a whole loaf of bread costs only 65 cents, the employee said.

There has been talk at KSG of supporting the Living Wage Campaign since the beginning of this school year, according to Aaron D. Bartley, a second-year law student and one of the campaign's leaders.

"This is a good official vote of support," Bartley said. "It becomes part of the public debate."

And now the president of KSG's student body has sent a letter to President Neil L. Rudenstine informing him of a resolution the student government passed endorsing the Living Wage campaign.

"As the wealthiest university in the world, Harvard can easily ensure that all employees are able to live and raise families in the communities in which they work," the resolution reads.

But the measure did not pass unanimously. When it came up for a vote, some KSG students voiced concerns about the price of a living wage. Some students worried that Harvard would be forced to pass on the cost of a wage increase to students.

"In response, I countered that we as students should endorse the notion in the spirit of sacrifice," wrote KSG student body president John B. Maggiore in his letter to Rudenstine.

Joe Wrinn, University spokesperson, declined to comment on the KSG resolution because Harvard is in the midst of studying the living wage demands.

Last spring, the University released an unprecedented "snapshot" of Harvard workers during the week of Feb. 20. The report revealed that out of a total of 13,113 regular Harvard employees, only 358, just 2.7 percent, were paid less than $10 an hour.

Of 1,361 "casual" workers, who are hired for part-time or temporary employment, 669 or 49 percent received less than $10 an hour. However, only 173 of those employees worked more than 15 hours a week.

After releasing the report, Rudenstine announced that he would create a faculty task force to study Harvard's labor policy. According to Wrinn, the University will not take action until the task force has completed its study.

An employee at a Harvard-owned restaurant at the KSG agreed with the student government's decision to endorse the Living Wage Campaign.

The employee, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed concern about low wages not only because of Harvard's wealth, but also because of the restaurant's high prices.

"I find they should pay people [more] because they make a lot of money here," the employee said.

A piece of toast there sells for 55 cents, for example, when a whole loaf of bread costs only 65 cents, the employee said.

There has been talk at KSG of supporting the Living Wage Campaign since the beginning of this school year, according to Aaron D. Bartley, a second-year law student and one of the campaign's leaders.

"This is a good official vote of support," Bartley said. "It becomes part of the public debate."