Opinion: USC Should Provide Paid Leave To Its Workers Amidst COVID-19
By: Sumaya Hussaini ‘22
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, USC announced that in-person classes are cancelled for the remainder of the semester and students are prohibited from returning to campus after spring break. The academic semester will be completed online in attempt to preserve public safety and prevent the further spread of COVID-19. While the shutting down of several campus facilities was a necessary precaution, USC workers will face serious economic consequences from this decision.
Many members of the hospitality, custodial, and food service staff are living paycheck to paycheck, relying on their USC income to afford living in LA. Rather than supporting its workers during this unexpected period, USC has only guaranteed wages for its workers for two weeks. A significant chunk of workers will be laid off for the semester, leaving hundreds of workers to deal with extreme financial difficulties.
The workers at USC keep our dorms clean, ensure our campus is safe, and serve as an integral part of our community. I have personally formed strong relationships with these staff members. Whether it’s at the dining hall or coming back to my apartment after studying at the library late at night, I’m always greeted with a friendly face by the people who work hard to make sure my educational experience is worthy. USC workers make me feel safe, secure, and grateful to attend this school.
This is a time when USC needs to stand with its workers, rather than against them. Given that top administrators at the University make six-figure salaries, the least they can do is ensure their workers are guaranteed pay and benefits during this crisis.
As an affluent university with a remarkably high tuition rate and generous endowments, USC has the financial resources to pay its workers. Just last summer, the University spent over $315 million renovating its football stadium, adding handrails and new seats with cup holders. Without a doubt, our University has money to spend on its workers, and should divert these funds in the right direction to ensure members of our community are protected.
While some may argue that workers don’t deserve compensation for hours they haven’t put in, USC workers entered into a semester long commitment and couldn’t have foreseen this pandemic. They should not be punished for an unexpected outbreak that threatens their ability to pay rent, buy groceries, and support their families.
Furthermore, since students aren’t being refunded for tuition, housing, and meal plans, there is no reason that the hospitality, custodial, and food service staff should be deprived of their paychecks. After all, we have already paid for their service. Rather than pocketing the money to keep for itself, the University must give its workers the money they need and deserve.
With the college admissions and sexual assault scandals, among other things, USC has continuously failed its community. While new faculty members have made significant strides to turn things around with new policies like the financial aid expansion, there is still so much to be done. If USC really cares about protecting the health, safety, and security of its community, it must provide guaranteed pay and benefits to USC workers for the duration of this crisis.
To support USC workers and urge the University to guarantee full pay for the rest of the semester, click here to sign the petition.
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