While many people in Arizona are applauding the new minimum wage hike in the state, while few others are criticizing, But there is one group that have been largely left out from the hike.
About 11,200 students at three state universities: Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and University of Arizona. Students are now making less money to work in their schools compared, if they got a job right off campus.
The reason is when Proposition raised the minimum wage in the state from $8.05 an hour to $10 right from the beginning day of this year, that reportedly benefited an estimated 800,000 people, the Proposition exempted employees who work for the state, including universities.
The vast majority of people who were left behind the wage hike are public-university students. Less than 200 state-agency employees were affected. Community colleges were also required to comply.
This means students who are working for a university 10 hours in a week for minimum wages are missing $312 per semester. And for two semesters the students will miss $1,250.
Lucas Dickey, an NAU junior in political science works for the grounds crew said; he was being paid $2 less than a worker in McDonalds and he performs essential tasks for everyday campus upkeep.
Mega Sopa, an ASU junior works as a grader for the math department and a community ambassador in her off-campus apartment said that she cannot believe that the wage increase did not apply to universities.
Sopa said that the wage increase would not have been a massive increase in her wages, but every little bit counts. "The thing that’s most bothersome is that it doesn’t seem fair," she said.
So far, the inequality in wages has sparked varied responses from the universities.
UA is planning to spend about $6.6 million to raise all employees to $10 an hour in July this year. In the same month, a Flagstaff law will take place that will leave some NAU employees making almost $4 less per an hour than their off-campus equals.
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