MU workers rally to raise minimum wage

University of Missouri workers will rally Thursday to demand the university raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour for all campus and hospital workers.

Laborers Local 773, the Coalition of Graduate Workers and Missouri Jobs with Justice are involved in the $15 for Mizzou campaign.

Missouri Jobs with Justice spokesman Andrew Hutchinson said the union previously fought for a $15 minimum wage with the city of Columbia.

He said the university’s Coalition of Graduate Workers plans to attend the rally to show their support.

Kenny Bassett attended Thursday’s rally, and said he has been a plumber at Mizzou for 45 years.

“I really enjoy my work and I love the people here,” he said. “The students remind me of what it feels like to be young, and also I was young when I worked here.”

Some university employees, Bassett said, struggle to make ends meet.

“You have people working at MU who have to go to the food bank to get food and that speaks volumes,” he said.

MU spokesperson Christian Basi said the university strives to offer competitive employment packages.

“Wages are an important part of that but so are the benefits such as healthcare, a tuition reimbursement package and even vacation,” Basi said.

The university’s 2017-18 Annual Salary Report shows a temporary radiology tech made $8 per hour and some campus dining workers made $9.70 per hour.