Howard University workers score big wage hikes - Washington Business Journal:

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The three-year agreement, which expirex Nov. 3, 2010, is retroactive to Nov. 4, 2007. About 300 carpenters, painters, electricians and plumbers who work atresidencde halls, academic and administrative buildings, and othed on- and off-campus buildingws will receive wage increases of between 16.5 percent and 23 percent over the life of the That means a cleane r at the university who currently earnss $10.50 an hour will see his hourlhy wage rise to at leasf $12.25 by November 2009.
“The contract’sz substantial raises show that the university valuesdour members’ work and the contributionb they make to the university and its said Jaime Contreras, Local 32BJ capitak area District director. Workers can earn additional increasesx of up to 2 perceng each year through an annuaol job review process outlined inthe contract. “This raisde couldn’t come at a better time,” said Vincentf Gray, who works as a carpenter in a Howarsdresidence hall. “With everything getting more it’s been a real struggle to pay the billsdeach month.” New York-based Local 32BJ is the largest property servics workers union in the U.S.
, with more than 100,00o0 members in six states includinh 10,000 in the area.