Syracuse University facilities workers rallied on the steps of 727 Comstock Ave. on Monday for higher wages and better benefits after rejecting a contract bargained by union leadership and Syracuse University. Credit: Patrick McCarthy | Central Current

Members of Syracuse University’s facilities union led a rally Monday afternoon on the steps of 727 Comstock Ave. after rejecting a contract proposed by the university.

The representatives of the Service Employees International Union Local 200United were joined by other SU employees and union members, as well as students and faculty. 200United represents food service workers, facilities service employees and library employees.

A series of speakers advocated for higher wages and healthcare protections as more than one hundred demonstrators – many wearing SEIU’s purple and gold shirts or neon facilities vests – chanted for SU to “share the wealth.” 

The union and university are negotiating a four-year contract, and are currently operating on a temporary contract. Members rejected making the temporary contract permanent. The speakers slammed the university’s proposal for a 3% increase in wages in year one of the contract, with some calling for 10% raises. Union members said such a raise would be more proportional to the rising cost of living. 

Since 2019, when the union received its last contract, the consumer price index has risen about 20%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“It’s not enough for members struggling, getting behind on bills, we can’t stay afloat. Inflation has buried us,” said facilities carpenter and SEIU member Matt Moon. 

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In a statement provided by email to Central Current, SU spokesperson Sarah Scalese said that the university has bargained in good faith with SEIU, and was confident both parties would soon arrive at an agreement.

“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,” the statement said.

Some demonstrators said that they were ready to follow in the path of more than 1,000 food service and custodial workers on strike at Cornell. 

SEIU union representative Local200 Doug McClure has participated as a leader in several contract negotiations and a 1998 strike, when 700 SEIU workers went on strike to protest SU’s use of temporary and non-union workers. McClure said the negotiations aren’t just about base wages and healthcare, but about protecting and building upon a package of benefits that previous union members fought to acquire.

“We follow the membership and the leaders of the union, and if that’s what the university pushes them to do, then we will lead them the appropriate path,” McClure said of a strike.

Syracuse councilman Pat Hogan briefly addressed Monday’s crowd, expressing his support for the union’s negotiation efforts. 

“If they aren’t paying any taxes,” Hogan said, “why aren’t they paying you folks?” 

According to Moon, the union’s rejection of the university’s proposed contract isn’t just about compensation for current employers, but also about attracting prospective employees in the future.

Moon said that the wages and benefits the university offers are no longer competitive, and aren’t attracting enough applicants to positions with facilities.

“They need to make a correction now. Otherwise, in the next four years, the length of this contract, this place is going to crumble,” Moon said.

SEIU and the university will reconvene on Wednesday for another round of negotiations.

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Patrick McCarthy is a staff reporter at Central Current covering government and politics. A graduate of Syracuse University’s Maxwell and Newhouse Schools, McCarthy was born and raised in Syracuse and...