SU union members rally for fair share in wage hikes in new employee contracts

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Syracuse University union members are following in the footsteps of Cornell employees. A rally took place on the Hill with members of SEIU Local 200United as time is running out for them to receive a new contract.

A sea of purple made up of SU employees lined Comstock Avenue on Monday evening, August 26, demanding a fair share after contract negotiations broke down two weeks ago.

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“There’s the old cliche, you hash it out at the table where the pie is,” said SEIU Local 200United President Scott Phillipson. “The problem is SU didn’t put enough pie on the table for everybody.”

Workers like Rob Betsey are sharing that they and their families are struggling with recent inflation and want raises.

“Cost of living has gone up so high. People are struggling to buy groceries, take care of their kids. Childcare is getting more expensive day by day,” Betsey said. “Everything is going up except our pay raises.”

That led to this rally, held on the first day of class, to show people how important these employees are.

“The work that our members do maintains an entire infrastructure of housing, food services, library services,” Phillipson said. “It’s a huge task opening this facility, keeping it open, and providing services the students want all year long.”

The union will meet with the university again on Wednesday, August 28, the first of two contract negotiation meetings, hoping to avoid a strike.

“It would shut down very important services. Just down the street here, Ernie Davis, they serve 1,500 to 2,000 meals every mealtime,” Phillipson said. “That would be a detriment to the student body who wouldn’t have those meals available.”

Going that far for their fair share.

“We have to show the community that without us, there would be no SU,” Betsey said.

Below is a statement from Syracuse University responding to today’s rally.

“Following months of productive discussions between the Union and Syracuse University, SEIU Local 200United members recently voted against a proposed new employment contract. The proposed agreement, reached jointly by Union leadership and the University, was a strong and competitive contract that provided significant financial benefits and meaningful improvements for Union members. Although we are disappointed in the outcome, we will continue to engage in good faith with Local 200United. We are confident that we will reach an agreement that works for everyone, just as we have done many times before in collaboration with SEIU Local 200United and our other unions on campus.”

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