By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – The deal committs $1 million over the next two years to raise salaries and benefits for lower-paid workers.
It also gives workers membersship in the university's Workers Rights Consortium, and forms a joint committee to improve university policies.
Janine Brito with the Student Worker Alliance says widespread support won the day:
"Religious members from the community would come in and pray 24 hours a day; people from the labor movement, activists from the community in St. Louis. It was just that outpouring from the community that made the university realize that they need to start treating members of its community fairly," Brito said.
Fred Volkmann is Washington University's vice-chancellor for public affairs:
"The university's process has prevailed," Volkmann said. "The lower paid service workers' issues have been brought to the table, and there will be some continuing effort and process to address those needs."
About a dozen students had occupied the university admissions office for 19 days.