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(DAILY_WILDCAT)

By Amy Schweigert
Arizona Daily Wildcat
August 29, 1997

Pay increases early for UA minimum wage workers

UA hourly minimum wage workers are getting more money this week than their counterparts around the country.

The increase, which takes effect nationally on Monday, is the result of a federal law raising the federal minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.15 per hour.

President Clinton signed the law, which will raise the minimum wage 90 cents over two years, on Aug. 20, 1996. It was the first increase to the wage in five years.

Oct. 1, 1996, the federally mandated increase raised workers' starting wage from $4.25 to $4.75 per hour. Monday, the second part of the law takes effect, giving starting workers a 40 cent increase over those who started working last year.

Although the minimum doesn't go up until Monday, the UA began paying its starting employees $5.15 per hour on Aug. 25, a week early.

The implementation of the early raise was an effort to avoid doing two payrolls, Armando Vargas, the interim coordinator for campus activities, said.

The university's payroll goes from Sunday through Monday, paying its employees bi-monthly on Fridays.

Sept. 1, the day the wage officially goes up, falls in the middle of the university's pay period, Vargas said.

Five years ago, the last time the wage increased, the university prepared separate payroll rosters in order to raise wages at the same time as the rest of the country, he said.

This time, Vargas said, "The university very wisely decided to change that."

According to a news release, two pay grades, one and two respectively, have been affected by the change. Grade 1 encompasses concession workers, event attendants, high school students and program aides.

Grade two is made up of research lab glassware attendants.

Three student group categories are also mentioned in the release, groups A, B and C. Those in group A ,who made less than $5.15 per hour, have had their wage raised to the mandated amount.

The minimum for group B members has been raised to $5.40 per hour.

Jackie Bolen, human resources specialist, said those in group B who made less than $5.40 per hour are now making that amount. The $6.50 rate for group C members, however, did not change, she said.

Some student workers were unaware of the early increase.

Maya Liebel, a theatre education freshman who works in the smoothie and pretzel bar in the Memorial Student Union's basement, said, "I didn't even know (about the increase)."

Jeremy Jordan, a music education junior working in Fast Copy, echoed Liebel. "I didn't know (the wage was increased). It's surprising."

"(They) haven't told me if I'm getting it, (a raise). I have to ask," undeclared sophomore Anna Rodiguez said.

Even though worker's pay rates went up, Armando Vargas said he was unsure if any prices went up in the Student Union as a result of wages.

Although some workers are earning more, they are working the same amount of hours.

Maria Hernandez, a part-time worker in the U-Mart, said her hours have not decreased.

No additional funds were allocated in consideration of the increase, the release stated.


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