Columbia union employees rally for higher living wages

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A group of Columbia employees held a rally Friday to advocate for higher living wages ahead of contract negotiations.

The event included workers from the University of Missouri, MU Health Care and the City of Columbia. The workers are represented by the LiUNA Local 955 union.

The union is demanding a living wage of $19 an hour for essential workers at the employers.

A spokesperson for the university provided a statement regarding the administration's stance on the upcoming talks.

"University leaders are committed to continuing discussions with employee groups regarding competitive compensation rates for their work," MU spokesperson Travis Zimpfer said in the statement.

The rally comes after several developments in recent months between local employees and their employers.

In early September, LiUNA Local 955 reached a deal with the city of Columbia for new pay adjustments for employees.

In October, statements by UM System President Mun Choi over free expression - specifically about wages, benefits and working conditions - prompted the union to ask that he assure employees that such speech is protected.

In December, librarians for MU voted to unionize with the aim, according to one librarian, of improving the school's libraries.