SLU Rejects Union Proposal for a $2 Raise, What It Means

St. Lawrence University administrators have declined a proposal for a $2 wage increase made by SLU’s union employees. The Service Employees International Union Local 200 United represents more than 100 hourly-wage- based laborers at SLU, who are now left questioning what action to take next.

Donald Martin, a seasonal staff member of the dining services team and member of SEIU, believes that the union’s request was reasonable. “The $2 was not really a given number, but it was a number that we felt was a fair raise for all of our staff to come to a living wage,” he said. “The university could have made a decision to financially assist the people that keep it running.”

Labor unions across the United States have historically turned to strikes and other labor demonstrations to gain leverage over their employers in negotiations. Martin posits that a labor shortage resulting from a strike would harm SLU’s functionality. However, he explains that such an action is unlikely because SEIU’s current contract with the university prohibits laborers from striking. “We can’t do that while we’re under contract. We can’t do a stoppage of work,” he said.

“The union has other avenues we could take to get our point across,” said Martin. Last spring, SEIU held a labor protest at the Canton Village Park, which drew a crowd of more than 100 students, staff and locals — highlighting an alternative to potential striking.

SLU’s executive Director of Communications Kim Asch argues that the university’s compensation package is consistent with the market. “The university provides a generous compensation package for SEIU staff,” she wrote. “The university agreed to a contract with SEIU Local 200 that runs until June 30, 2025, and is honoring the terms of that agreement, which was approved by more than 73 percent of union voters.”

Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics Andy Wang believes that raising wages is a double-edged sword. “$2 could benefit the workers who have lower wages,” he said. However, he believes that if SLU increases the minimum wage, they will resort to hiring fewer people.

Wang said that a labor shortage would negatively affect SLU’s labor supply if the university’s finances were depleted. He explains that if SLU has less money to spend, they will hire fewer people. Wang also believes that SEIU has less bargaining power with SLU than a traditional labor union with for-profit employers. “Labor unions don’t necessarily have as much influence over universities since they’re not-for-profit.”

SLU’s decision to reject the wage increase proposal comes just under two years before the university has to re-negotiate its contract with SEIU. Brian Teucke, an SEIU employee representing SLU’s union laborers, does not feel that the university has taken his members’ concerns seriously. “We’re not going to give them any quarter to elongate the suffering they’re putting our members through,” he said. “We’re in no mindset, at this point, to extend the contract.”

SEIU’s request comes as labor union strikes across the nation have yielded positive outcomes for their members. The United Auto Workers and Screen Actors Guild negotiated landmark contracts earlier this month, which led to significant wage increases for their members. SEIU’s members have been following this development, according to Teucke. “Our members are in the driver’s seat,” he said, referencing the other labor strikes. “Coming from past conversations — for us — all options are on the table.”

While securing wage increases remains a top priority for SLU laborers, Martin explained that most of all, they want to be heard by the SLU administrators, yet he said they were absent at meetings discussing the wage proposal. “I just feel that the university sees the hourly staff as a fiscal number on a spreadsheet that they’re looking to make a profit off of,” he said.

“I would’ve rather have talked to the people that make the decisions,” said Martin. “I would’ve liked to have our voice heard directly by them and not just condensed notes from someone else. They don’t hear the real story; they just get words.”