University grants raises to lowest-paid workers

   Princeton University’s lowest-paid workers will get their wage increases earlier than promised.
   All non-union, biweekly-paid workers, even those whose wages already were above average market pay scale, are receiving pay increases, university officials announced Sept. 12. The new salaries took effect Sept. 3.
   The wages of unionized workers also will be adjusted, as soon as discussions with the unions are concluded, the university said.
   President Shirley Tilghman said Princeton is committed to maintaining wages at or above the market average.
   The increases will affect about 1,600 office and clerical employees, library support staff members, laboratory and technical-support staff members and maintenance and service employees.
   In response to concerns about wages for the lower-paid workers, university officials announced in May that they would close about one-third of the gap between existing wage levels and market averages in 2001, and would eliminate the remaining gap over the next several years. Instead, the university said, the wage improvements just implemented close about half the gap immediately. The university said it hopes to complete the elimination of the wage gap next year.
   Princeton also announced that workers hired to work at least half-time for five months or more have been converted to regular or term positions, which carry benefits.
   The university also has committed not to contract out for continuing services, such as janitorial services, if the contracted employees would be paid less than the university’s minimum of $11 per hour.