Manhattan’s wages are abysmally low. Across most industries, and particularly in food and healthcare services, we have about 20-30% lower wages than the national average. This community is dependent upon the top 2 employers, Fort Riley and Kansas State, which employ over 10,000 people in Manhattan. That is one-fifth of all Manhattan residents. Suffice to say, whatever K-State is paying is extremely impactful on our community. Additionally, our low wages must include the low wages paid to students on this campus as a massive source of exploitable labor.

Dr. Thomas Lane, Dean of Students, has made it clear that the University has no central policy for wage setting. This means some departments are paying at or just above federal minimum wage ($7.25/hr). These are starvation wages, these are unacceptable. The YDSA at Kansas State is committed to fighting department by department if we have to for a livable wage on campus.

The University claims to support all students, until they become a source of low-wage labor, then they can be ignored, censored, and exploited. Kansas State University can and should set a $15 minimum wage for all staff, and the City Commission should not approve a budget that functionally raises rents and taxes on the poorest people in the city. We should be a thriving community, not one that constricts its residents at every turn. To do that, we need a release valve that can actually reduce the pressure on our most vulnerable populations.

If you work in Manhattan and would like to respond to our survey, every response helps us fill the gaps and advocate for your needs.

SURVEY HERE

With solidarity,
Daniel Robertson
Co-Chair
YDSA at KSU