#PeopleFirstBudget: Selfies for a living wage

Without campus workers, our campus wouldn’t work—but that reality isn’t reflected in the budget. Despite the fact that thousands of us public higher education employees across Tennessee make less than a living wage, and many more of us make right around it, while all of our wages and salaries fall far below that of our peer institutions, we aren’t a priority for state spending. Tuition and fees are going up on our students; buildings are getting built all around our campus; but our wages—well, they’re right where they’ve been for a while. It's been nearly two years since we saw any increase in our wages. That’s why we’re taking action. We’re calling for a budget that puts the people first.

Budget deliberations are happening right now at the campus level, and within the month are going to start at the state level. We need to speak out for ourselves and one another to make sure we’re a priority!

We're asking you to take a photo of yourself like these: "I want a budget that puts the people first!" Then send it to us: peoplefirstbudget@gmail.com with your name, title, and where you work. We’re going to get them out there over Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Do you want a budget that puts people first? Take a selfie today!

Help us build a movement for living wage jobs, our public schools, and our democracy. We need living wage jobs and a real cost of living raise for campus workers, not minimum wage jobs that keep Tennesseans in poverty. Instead of attacking our public schools and teachers at all levels, we need legislators to strengthen public schools by providing the resources and robust funding our public education institutions so desperately need. And in the midst of all this, we need to send a firm message to the legislature that we will not tolerate threats to our democratic rights to vote, protest, and organize.