Lehigh University students pursue a Living Wage, increased appreciation for campus workers, 2005

Lehigh is a university of 5,000 students located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The University provides campus food services, maintenance of facilities and campus grounds through contracts with corporations Sodexho, One Source and Brickman respectively.

On 23 April 2005 an organizer for United Students against Sweatshop, Dawn Liberto, gave a speech at Lehigh, in which she encouraged students to take increased interest in campus workers. Liberto called for a campus living wage, suggesting that students begin with appreciation lunches and then pursue contract previsions.

The Progressive Student Alliance was a campus group with 25 members that historically promoted liberal values at Lehigh. In 2005, the Alliance formed the Lehigh Workers Appreciation Committee, tasked with increasing student respect for campus workers. The Appreciation Committee held its first event in the fall of 2005, recognizing the maintenance staff for Taylor residence hall with gift cards and flowers. The Taylor staff members expressed thanks, and they reciprocated by preparing a lunch for student residents. 

On 14 February 2006 students from the Appreciation Committee served a Valentine’s breakfast to employees at the University Center, a dining hall on the Lehigh campus. Students wore red shirts, and they greeted workers with handmade Valentine’s cards. Bakery worker Joe Feiertag presented committee members with a treat platter, saying “It’s nice to be appreciated.”

Sophomore Alexi Cherney followed by publishing an opinion peace in the student paper – titled “Recognizing our Ocean” - calling for students to be aware of campus workers. 

On Labor Day, September 2006, Lehigh administrators observed the holiday, but students, faculty and staff still had regular work hours. The Progressive Student Alliance claimed this was an unfair discrepancy and protested out front of the University Center. Alliance members distributed fliers and shared free sandwiches, suggesting that their fellow students give dining staff a break. A number of students participated, but several were reportedly only interested in the food. Alliance members deemed the event a success, claiming it had forced students to think about labor issues.

Any subsequent Alliance activities on wage and worker appreciation were not publicly recorded. The Progressive Student Alliance appears to have directed attention to other causes, specifically environmental issues.