Union to push for raises at UT again

$1,200 across-the-board hike is United Campus Workers' goal

By RANDY KENNER, kenner@knews.com
February 27, 2006

A University of Tennessee employees union plans to try again this year to get a $1,200 across-the-board raise for higher education employees through the state Legislature.

The United Campus Workers argues that the measure is fairer for UT's lowest paid employees than Gov. Phil Bredesen's proposed 2 percent raise.

"We feel like the principle (of last year's effort) stands," said UCW President Tom Smith. "We feel like it is the fairest way, currently, that raises should be done at the university, and we feel like it addresses one of the fundamental problems with pay on this campus.

"One of our members, she is 58 years old and makes $7.41 an hour working 40 hours a week. That is state-sponsored institutional poverty," he said.

More than 1,000 full-time UT Knoxville employees make less than $10.73 an hour, which is what the UT Faculty Senate contends is a living wage for a family of four here based on a study it did last year.

Last year the flat-raise bill, co-sponsored by state Rep. Harry Tindell, D-Knoxville, and state Sen. Tim Burchett, R-Knoxville, and others made it out of the education committee but didn't get to the floor for a vote.

Instead, the Legislature passed a budget calling for a 3 percent raise for higher education employees. All UT employees, for the third straight year, got at least a $750 hike no matter how low their annual salary was.

"We're going to run with it (the $1,200 flat-raise bill) again this year and just see what happens," Burchett said. "These folks are such good people, and they just want their fair share and I'm trying to help them get it."

The path won't be any easier, according to state Rep. Mike Turner, D-Nashville, who also co-sponsored the bill last year.

"It's going to be tough, going to be tough," he said.

He said the state has "some surpluses" of money this year but added that there are a lot of groups in need of it.

Still, UCW Treasurer Wesley Knott said, "I feel like we have a better chance this year than last year simply because we're more experienced and we have more information."

The UCW, a local of the Communications Workers of America, has about 350 members at UT Knoxville and UT Chattanooga, according to Smith. It cannot, however, bargain collectively for its members under state law.

Turner said he planned to meet with a group of UCW members who will be in Nashville on Tuesday to visit with legislators.

"We have to see if we can find the money to pay for it," he said.

Burchett agreed there is a lot of competition for any surplus money but added, "I would just think we could take care of some of our loyal state employees who barely make enough to be over the poverty level."

Under the governor's proposed 2 percent raise, a UT employee making $23,000 would get a $460 raise, while one making $100,000 would get $2,000.

More than 700 UT faculty members and administrators statewide make more than $100,000.

A $1,200 across-the-board raise would benefit everyone making $60,000 or less more than the 2 percent would.

Turner said he supports the measure because he believes many state employees are underpaid, particularly in higher education.

The measure would, however, be more costly for the state.

Last year a $1,200 flat raise for UT employees at Knoxville would have cost an estimated $4.28 million. A 2 percent raise would have been $3.28 million.

UT's administration successfully pushed to be allowed to offer merit pay, using a salary pool containing the 3 percent raise, to faculty last year. The rest of the staff got across-the-board raises.

UT President John Petersen said last year the move was essential because, "the more flexibility you can have, the better off you'll be."

He said then that UT's faculty salaries already are lower than national average and if "everything is across-the-board, then we're toast."

Bredesen's proposed budget isn't etched in stone. During the last two years, the state has found additional funding for higher education, mostly for capital improvements.

"This is not an easy job," Turner said, "but sometimes you can (look) around and find a few things here and there, and we're going to try."

Randy Kenner may be reached at 865-342-6305.

Copyright 2006, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.