KSU president gives up over $90,000 of his salary to boost lowest-paid campus employees

[MelissaB]

KSU president gives up over $90,000 of his salary to boost lowest-paid campus employees

Raymond Burse, interim president of Kentucky State University, has given up more than $90,000 of his salary so university workers earning minimum wage could have their earnings increased to $10.25 an hour.

"My whole thing is I don't need to work," Burse said. "This is not a hobby, but in terms of the people who do the hard work and heavy lifting, they are at the lower pay scale."

Burse's annual salary had been set at $349,869. He had been KSU's president from 1982 to 1989 and later became an executive at General Electric Co. for 17 years, including 10 as a senior executive. He retired in 2012 with good benefits, he said.

...snip

Burse asked how many university employees earn less than $10.25 an hour, an amount some say is a living wage. The current minimum wage is $7.25.

"This is not a publicity stunt," he said. "You don't give up $90,000 for publicity. I did this for the people. This is something I've been thinking about from the very beginning."

The raise in pay for those employees will stay in place even after a new president is selected, he said. It will be the rate for all new hires as well. The change is immediate.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2014/08/01/3361549/ksu-presidents-gives-up-90000.html#storylink=cpy

[steve2470]

1. this guy rocks nt

[dhill926]

2. K and fucking R...

good for this guy….

[ladym55]

3. Wow

Raymond Burse may find himself drummed out of the university presidents' club. The goal for most is to enrich self at the expense of students, faculty, and staff.

I'm shocked.

But also very happy to see SOMEONE in leadership think of the little guy.

[lpbk2713]

4. Everyone should have a boss like that.

to Mr Burse.

[panader0]

5. Wow...

[catrose]

6. That's great

And he still gets over $250k...that's hard to process, for me, anyway.

[sulphurdunn]

28. That's a lot of money,

but it's not A LOT OF MONEY as big money goes.

[Uncle Joe]

7. Kudos to Raymond Burse.

Thanks for the thread, MelissaB,

[yortsed snacilbuper]

8. " the people who do the hard work and heavy lifting, they are at the lower pay scale."

Sounds like they need a Union!

[Triana]

9. Would love to see those such as Coach at Duke do this. n/t

[progressoid]

11. Or just about any coach at any University

[AngryDem001]

10. WAAAAAAAH!!! Socialism!!

I can just hear Repiggies heads splodin'.....

Good on Mr. Burse!

[progressoid]

12. Wealth redistribution!!!

[AngryDem001]

16. OH NOOOOOOOOOES!!!!

[lovemydog]

13. Great person. We need more

of this - more more more!

[A Little Weird]

14. That's great!

University presidents are paid too much and the minimum wage is not enough for anyone. I would love to see this start a trend.

[mountain grammy]

15. Good for him, a man who values work, because that's what this is about..

I don't care how "lowly" a job is, it's work, dammit, and should be compensated as work. Someone who shows up and does his or her job every day is contributing to the success of that employer, regardless of who it is, and should be paid a living wage or that employer should close up shop.

[exboyfil]

17. The president of my daughter's land grant

college with an enrollment of over 33,000 makes $448K/yr. KSU enrollment is just over 2,000 students. The president's salary is insane.

[Liberal_in_LA]

18. k&r

[krawhitham]

19. k&r

[Mnemosyne]

20. An honorable human.

[moondust]

21. So compassion is not illegal

in red states? Yet?

[Ishoutandscream2]

22. He could drop another 100,000

To help and he could still love comfortably. Nevertheless, this is still a good gesture.

[JDPriestly]

23. What a wonderful thing to do. It is significant and shows true moral courage.

I hope that other highly paid university and corporate administrators will follow Burse's example.

Burse deserves recognition from the president.

[llmart]

24. Wonderful idea!

Maybe I should forward this to the university where I work?

Universities are becoming the new corporations/big business where a handful of people at the top make a ton of money while the little people (um, me for one) actually do the day to day work.

[hfojvt]

25. I am surprised that a mere $90,000 would do it

That's only a $1 an hour raise for 43 full time employees.

One trouble is that there are probably many people in Frankfort who already made less than KSU workers. So now their good jobs got even better.

[MissDeeds]

26. Great leader

Wow. This is just incredible. Pres. Burse is a true hero and I salute you sir!



K&R

[mdbl]

27. Good luck with the majority

They are all stuck in the royalty-peasant thing. This guy at KSU will be the very small exception. Unions are the only way keep wages at middle class level. Unfortunately, someone has convinced the peasants that a unions are not in their best interests. I guess that's what you get from people who can't think for themselves.