Whereas, ASUCI has paid stipend positions within the student-run organization; and

Whereas, ASUCI has several levels of paid stipend positions differing based on status: executive officer, senator, associate justice, commissioner, and a variety of support staff positions within senate and judicial board; and

Whereas, administrative office staff receive hourly pay at the rate of California minimum wage; and

Whereas, there is pay inequality in ASUCI; and  

Whereas, ASUCI currently invests over five times the amount of the operating budget to professional staff members and the ASUCI Administrative budget in comparison to the investment in paid officers, commissioner, senators, justices, and other student staff; and

Whereas, according to the ASUCI bylaws,  ASUCI executive officers are expected to put in approximately 16 hours per week, equaling 64 hours per month, and get paid $725 or less; and

Whereas, ASUCI executive officers currently are not equal in pay; and

Whereas ASUCI senators are expected to put in approximately a minimum of 4 hours per week, equaling 16 hours per month, and get paid $75; and

Whereas ASUCI commissioners are expected to put in approximately 10 hours per week, equaling 40 hours per month, and get paid $105 per month, with many of these stipends being shared by two individuals; and

Whereas, ASUCI does not begin issuing stipends to paid staff until their working term begins; and

Whereas, commissioners, senators, justices, and paid support staff all begin their working terms at different times; and

Whereas, some commissioners, senators, and justices begin work before receiving pay; and

Whereas, ASUCI advocates for $15 minimum wage, fair work for fair pay, elimination of subcontract work, protections for workers, expansion of paid internships and career opportunities; and

Whereas, not properly paying UCI students discourages and takes away access from students who want to be involved in ASUCI; and

Whereas, students invest not only their money into ASUCI, but their time; and

Whereas, the Student Resource and Services Initiative has allowed for the ability to invest student’s money back into them for their work; and

Whereas, ASUCI has recognized that students on our campus suffer with housing and food insecurity; and

Whereas, ASUCI has recognized that students struggle to maintain focus on school and career development because the high costs of education, causing them to have to work part time and full time jobs; and

Whereas, ASUCI should be encouraging student involvement in the organization through recognition for the time, effort, skill, and work that student staff do; and

Therefore let it be resolved, that ASUCI Senate and Officers commit to fair work for fair pay for their student staff throughout the growth of student invest in ASUCI; and

Therefore let it be resolved that, ASUCI Senate approves that:

1. All executive officers pay be equal for all officers

2. Commissioner stipends will be increased to $150 a month beginning in the ASUCI year 2017-2018

3. Commissioner stipends may begin at different time frames, according to the beginning of their working term set by the Executive officer, Senate President, Chief Justice, or standing commission head; and

4. Commissioner stipends cannot be shared by two individuals

Therefore let if be resolved that, ASUCI Senate suggest recommendations to future budget proposals to:

1. Reflect progress towards fair work for fair pay for students

2. Executive officers present a pay timeline for their paid staff upon affirmation by senate

3. Update the bylaws to reflect stipend allocations