On August 27, Penn’s Student Financial Aid office notified 56 Resident Advisors that they would “need to adjust your financial aid award to reflect the value of the compensation” as “outlined in the RA union contract.”

This outrageous change directly impacts lower-income students and is an attack on equity and equal pay for equal work.

Penn is saying that the value of the work of RAs is worth $18,436. Penn is then reducing financial aid awards for some RAs by over $6,000 per year because they decide to work for Penn. While each RA’s financial aid package may differ based on numerous factors, no one should have to pay to work for Penn.

Penn requires (G)RAs to live on campus and asks them to eat with their residents. RAs are given one choice of meal plans and some now pay over $30 per swipe, according to recent financial aid calculations! Yet they are taking away (G)RA’s financial aid to do all of this important work. This is an attack on the dignity of (G)RAs at Penn and the critical work (G)RAs do to support their peers.

Penalizing people for working as an RA is wrong and we believe it may be illegal.

OPEIU Local 153 will be filing Unfair Labor Practice charges with the federal government, as well as working with local and state regulators to see if there may be the basis of a larger violation, such as wage theft. We will take any and all legal action to protect our members' right to fair and equitable pay.

In the meantime, we call on members to appeal any changes to their financial aid.

We call on supporters to send a letter directed at Penn leaders with the following demands:

• Equal pay for equal work!
• Stop penalizing student workers on financial aid!
• Rescind any cuts in financial aid immediately!