University of Arizona adjunct and non-tenure faculty will be part of the Fight for $15 rally happening Wednesday.

The international movement demands that the country’s minimum wage be raised to $15 an hour. The movement started out with fast-food workers asking for better pay, but this year, childcare workers and adjunct professors are among the people joining the struggle.

About 200 cities around the U.S. and in 35 countries will host similar events in solidarity. 

The one in Tucson begins at 11 a.m. There is more information below from an email I received:

ASSEMBLE at the intersection of Speedway and Campbell (we are hoping to occupy all four corners).

MARCH west on the North Side of Speedway approximately one block to the McDonalds on that side of the street.

RALLY with speakers, striking Fast Food Workers, and perhaps a song or two. Following this rally, we will PROCEED another block to the underpass under Speedway leading to the University of Arizona Campus.  

REASSEMBLE on the UofA Mall, we will then MARCH West along the Mall to Old Main where another RALLY will take place at 12 p.m.. We will be joining Non Tenured Staff from both the UofA and Pima Community Colleges who are the low wage workers who teach a majority of classes at our educational institutions with unlivable wages and no benefits.

We will have signs and Banners. But please feel free to bring your own. 

As I wrote in an article earlier this year, an average working graduate student (not all adjunct and non-tenure faculty members are graduate students by the way) makes about $16,000, which is below the estimated cost of attendance ($20,900, according to the UA Graduate Professional Student Council), as well as the living wage for Pima County ($17,400 as calculated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

This article appears in Apr 9-15, 2015.

I was born and raised in Guatemala City, Guatemala. I moved to Tucson about 10 years ago. Since I was old enough to enjoy reading, I developed an interest in writing, and telling stories through different...

6 replies on “UA Adjunct Join $15 Minimum Wage Fight; Rally Happening Wednesday”

  2. That’s right. Don’t increase your value by improving your skillset. Just demand more money. It’s the public sector way.

    Maybe then you can afford Union dues.

  4. Yes I do. Are you referring to college grads working in fast food jobs? maybe college is a poor decision for many.

  5. Hi David: the article cites graduate students. As in adults with excellent skill sets– so much so that they are studying advanced degrees. They are making on average $16,000 a year. I can see how you may be confused since fast food workers and graduate students are supporting each other for a living wage. A LIVING WAGE. As in, not living in poverty despite working.

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