Auburn Workers Stage Protest March Over Minority Wages

Black Issues in Higher Education, August 19, 1999

AUBURN, Ala.. -- Singing "We Shall Overcome" and carrying signs reading, "What's AU afraid of? -- The truth," about 50 current and former Auburn University employees marched down College Street last month to protest what they say is discrimination in the workplace.

The marchers alleged inequities in pay, works hours, advancement opportunity and unfair hiring practices in the facilities division, which employs a mostly Black staff of custodial, landscaping, waste, and construction personnel.

"Employees are promoted thorough the buddy system ... the good ol' boy system is alive and well," says electric shop employee Steve Kirk, who is White. "We're supporting the other workers who have been racially discriminated against."

The workers marched in front of the AU president's, William Muse, Samford Hall office.

James Crabb, who says he worked at Auburn for more than 12 years before quitting, joined in the protest. He says he was making $7.24 an hour when he quit.

"I know they kept Blacks over here down on the pay scale, so I had to leave," says Crabb, who now is employed by Auburn Public Works. "They weren't paying me well enough to feed myself."

The university denies its practices were discriminatory, but acknowledges problems in advancing its employees' careers.

"While in any organization the size of Auburn University, there may be incidents that raise legitimate claims of racial or gender harassment or discrimination," Muse said in a statement, "the general concerns raised by facilities division employees do not appear to be of that character."

Muse says the university will come up with a plan by Oct. 1 to address the workers' complaints.