Another Day, Another Dollar, Another Notre Dame Protest

Poor John Jenkins -- the head honcho of South Bend can't ever make anyone completely happy.

Another demonstration outside his office, but at least this one's about something a bit more pressing to people's lives than the Vagina Monologues:

University of Notre Dame student activists engaged in a sit-in outside the university president's office Tuesday to draw attention to their campaign for a living wage for campus workers.

The students wanted a discussion with the Rev. John I. Jenkins, Notre Dame's president, about wages and working conditions for campus workers.

Members of the Campus Labor Action Project, a student group, are pushing the university to adopt a living wage of at least $12.10 per hour. Notre Dame's current starting wage (for a nontipped, full-time employee) is $8.13 per hour....

The students sat down in the corridor, saying they would wait. They presented a letter addressed to Jenkins regarding the proposed task force.

Jenkins arrived a little after 11 a.m.

Shortly thereafter, according to the students, Jenkins came out in the hallway and read a short statement.

In the statement, released by the university, Jenkins noted administrators this year have met with CLAP representatives at least five times and said most of the interactions have been amicable, productive meetings. Jenkins said he has entrusted responsibility for the issue to John Affleck-Graves, executive vice president, and Robert McQuade, associate vice president for human resources.

"I am confident of their skill, their good faith and their concern for the well-being of our employees and the university as a whole. At Notre Dame, we value the contributions of every member of our staff, who help make this university the special place it is. And we are committed to paying fair and just wages and benefits to our workers, as a matter of justice and of fidelity to Catholic social teaching," the president's statement concluded.

The students said Jenkins declined to answer questions and went back inside his office. They continued the sit-in throughout the afternoon.

Well, maybe if they saved a bit by buying Maida Temple for a song and not having to pay to lease extra DC space, it might be doable.

Oremus....

-30-