Yesterday, a campaign to “Fight for $15” was staged across the country. This movement supports efforts to pay all employees at least $15 per hour. Here at the University of Maryland, we are proud that we have already eclipsed this benchmark for all full-time university employees when you factor in benefits.

In addition to providing a living wage, the university also provides nonexempt employees:

—Shift differential that provides extra pay to employees for certain shifts

—Accelerated annual leave earnings schedule (an additional day a year for the first five years of service)

—Three personal leave days each year

—Fourteen holidays each year and an additional holiday in general or congressional election years

—One hundred percent tuition remission for employees and eligible family members (tuition remission at other University System of Maryland institutions is 50 percent for eligible family members)

—The university pays 80 percent of employees’ health insurance premiums

—Full-time employees earn 15 workdays per year, accrued on a biweekly basis

The university has long demonstrated its commitment to every employee. Last summer, we successfully concluded negotiations with our union for nonexempt employees that resulted in higher wages, lower parking costs and a number of other enhancements to the university’s work environment. Through our collective efforts, we have demonstrated a commitment to continual improvement for every employee. This university, the union and the students all share the same goal: to create a healthy and positive workplace environment for all employees.

Jewel Washington is assistant vice president of University Human Resources. She can be reached at jmwashin@umd.edu.