Almost one hundred UW-Madison students rallied for justice on Library Mall Thursday afternoon asking for increased diversity, lower tuition, and later joined several hundred state workers at the state Capitol asking for higher wages.
Many student groups rallied at Library Mall, including WisPIRG and the Student Labor Action Coalition. The students said they wanted fair wages for state employees and lower tuition for students.
Samantha Ashley, a member of SLAC, denounced state lawmakers for ignoring the needs of the lower class and students.
“Their fight is our fight; we’re going to take a stand against rising tuition, and we’re going to demand a living wage for UW workers,” Ashley said.
Ashley said rising tuition is not caused by segregated student fees, as some would portray, but because of poor Wisconsin government policy.
“People need to know the reason for tuition increases is not segregated fees, segregated fees help students,” she said. “[Tuition increases are a result of] the $200 million tax break and credits to corporations that are part of the state budget.”
Jennifer Epps, diversity co-chair for ASM, spoke about the tuition increases and diversity. Epps said tuition hikes are hurting all students.
“Our tuition increased 8.9 percent this year, and is set to increase 8.9 percent next year,” Epps said. “That means all students are in danger of being priced out of their education.”
Austin King, a UW-Madison junior who attended the rally, admitted the two issues, tuition and wage increases, did not seem related, but insisted they must be viewed together.
“Solidarity between student workers is crucial to the overall scheme of things,” said King. “The priorities of economic and social justice have to fundamentally be making sure everyone has a quality education and everyone gets a quality wage.”
Student demonstrators marched down State Street to the capitol after the rally, chanting slogans such as, “Students and workers unite, same struggle same fight.”
While marching, tension broke out between demonstrators and police, who asked the marchers to walk on the sidewalks instead of blocking the road. Demonstrators refused to listen and chanted mocking phrases at the police. No arrests were made.
At the Capitol rally, several speakers addressed the need for increased wages for state workers who have dedicated their lives to public service.
“Today we call upon the Governor and the Legislature to adequately fund our schools, to insure the access and affordability of secondary education for all students, and to provide contracts to state workers which will adequately compensate them for their dedication and hard work,” said Bob Beglinger, member of the Wisconsin Federation of Teachers. “[We need] contracts which ensure that their incomes are not continually eroded by inflation, and that their families do not live in poverty.”
Beglinger said, because of inflation, state workers are receiving $1000 less annually than ten years ago. He said state employees are not prepared to accept the one percent to two percent increase currently proposed, but insist on a $1-an-hour increase in response to higher living costs.
Adam Walsh, the newly elected freshman Associated Students of Madison representative, stressed the need for higher wages now for the benefit of state employees’ children.
“We want your children to be able to attend the same university that we now do,” Walsh said. “In order to do that, we need to keep your wages high and tuition low.”
Bill Franks, a member of the American Federation of Teachers, said if state employees do not receive the wage increases they deserve, political action will intensify to force lawmakers to take notice.
“We cannot legally [strike] but we would engage in other tactics,” Franks said. “The Governor and legislators are all elected officials, and we all vote.”
