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OXFORD — The union representing more than 200 of the 950 or so Miami University staff, Local 209, has presented a proposal to the administration that asks for the adoption of a "living wage."

The union's issue is about the size of staff wage increases, according to the proposal submitted. Union members argue that annual wage increases, 2 1/2 percent, don't match the national rate of inflation.

The contract between the university and staff is set to expire in June 2009, and, with the help of Miami campus group Students for Staff, union members are campaigning for Miami to adopt a "living wage."

"We're suffering with the economy," said grounds assistant Nora Brown, who makes $9 an hour.

SFS recently presented Miami President David Hodge with a five-point proposal. It includes a minimum base rate pay of $12.45 an hour, equity wage increases to address wage compression, wages annually indexed with the cost of living and funding that would not require loss of benefits, increased tuition or layoffs.

Hodge declined to support or endorse the SFS proposal specifically, but said: "We want to be an employer of choice and we want our employees to be well-compensated."

From Hodge's point of view, beyond reconciling university figures and numbers with those used to develop the SFS proposal, it is important to determine whether staff would rather see more money at the bottom of the pay scale or have that money evenly distributed throughout the pay scale.

Local 209 Vice President Mark Sawyer said he thinks "it would be more important to bring up the bottom end."

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