Brown’s Employment Practices for its Lowest Paid Employees

From January 1 2000 through October 30 2000, Brown employed 1,296 individuals on a temporary basis, for a total of 379,069 hours of work. 

On any given day there are 350 temporary workers at Brown on the ‘miscellaneous’ payroll.  In addition, Brown hires roughly 70 workers a day through temporary agencies. 

Brown is not taking advantage of opportunities to phase temporary positions into permanent positions.  For example, the head of Facilities Management has said that on any given day there are at least 12-14 absent employees, which are currently filled by temporary workers in order to save money.  These positions should be filled by permanent floating workers, which would require less training, would be more efficient, and would be a more responsible employment practice than hiring ‘temporary’ workers on an ongoing basis. 

Not counting hundreds of temporary positions, 275 permanent employees at Brown are paid less than $12.30 an hour.

Providence Living Standards and the Calculation of a Living Wage

The living wage calculation of $12.30 an hour was set in accordance with a September 2000 study of housing rates and living standards by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (www.nlihc.org).  The study found that in Rhode Island, an affordable rent (defined by the federal government as 30% of one’s income) for a two-bedroom apartment is $638 a month.  A minimum wage-earner, as are many of Brown’s food service workers, can afford monthly rent of no more than $294.  The amount a worker would have to earn an hour in a full-time job to be able to afford a Fair Market Rent is $12.28.

The Brown Living Wage Campaign is coordinating with a Providence Living Wage Campaign, led by community organizations such as DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality) and Jobs With Justice.  The Providence campaign is also demanding a wage of $12.30 be paid by any business that contracts with the city or receives large city subsidies.