Stand with STLPR

Federal funding for public media is at risk. Protect the reporting that informs and connects our community. Your sustaining donation will help keep STLPR strong, independent, and accountable to you—not to political winds.

Donate Now
© 2025 St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis Public Radio is a listener-supported service of the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
St. Louis Public Radio
Here & Now
St. Louis Public Radio
Here & Now
Next Up: 12:00 PM St. Louis on the Air
0:00
0:00
Here & Now
St. Louis Public Radio
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Amid orders to cut funding for public media, here’s what you can do to help.
Other

Wash U. Students Protest for Better Wages

A sign that hangs outside the building where students are staging their sit-in. (UPI photo/Bill Greenblatt)
A sign that hangs outside the building where students are staging their sit-in. (UPI photo/Bill Greenblatt)

By Matt Sepic, KWMU

St. Louis, MO. – A small group of students at Washington University in St. Louis is staging a sit-in to demand the administration pay campus employees a living wage.

Carl Lipscombe with the D.C.-based Student Labor Action Project says Washington University students have lobbied for nearly two years on behalf of service workers who make poverty level wages.

He says students have met with administrators and held rallies, but to no avail.

"Basically, what they've been doing has fallen on deaf ears," Lipscombe said. "The president of the university has refused to act on behalf of the workers, and so the students felt as though it was time to escalate their tactics."

The students want the university to pay service workers at least $9.54 an hour, or $11.63 if they have no health benefits. They plans to remain in the university's admissions office until their demands are met.

In a statement, Washington University officials say they're willing to consider the demonstrators' proposal.

Send questions and comments about this story to feedback@stlpublicradio.org.

Support Local Journalism

St. Louis Public Radio is a non-profit, member-supported, public media organization. Help ensure this news service remains strong and accessible to all with your contribution today.

Other