UCW-CWA

LEGISLATIVE ACTION

STATE BUDGET APPROVED;
UT EMPLOYEES TO RECEIVE $750 MINIMUM RAISE
Posted June 1, 2005

This past Saturday the Tennessee general assembly wrapped up its 2005 session and passed the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. According to information given to us by allies we have in the Tennessee General Assembly:

UT staff will be receiving a $750 raise or 3%, whichever is greater.

UT Faculty will be receiving a minimum 1.5% raise, with 1.5% to be used for equity and/ or merit raises.

According to State Representative Harry Tindell, who is chair of the House Budget subcommittee, "This is an experiment in giving them flexibility. We have requested specific oversight of the plan's implementation in order to monitor what they have done. This was a compromise position based in part on input from your organization and UT. The specific language is contained in the appropriations act."

UCW-CWA organized several trips to Nashville over the previous months, advocating for the $1200 flat raise for all UT staff and faculty. We also were adamant that we didn't trust UT to have full control of the budget, which is a position they fought for in the legislature this year.

The Governor's budget in January called for only a 1% raise. The work that UT employees did to promote the flat raise helped push this 1% to 3%, and helped prevent UT for having full control to give raises to who they want.

The UCW-CWA wanted to get this news out to everyone as soon as we received it. Analysis from us will come in the days to come.

Percentage Raises VS. a Flat Dollar Raise
State Representative Harry Tindell has provided the union with information from the University on what percent increases cost UT versus flat dollar increases.

According to UT, the grand total cost of the $1200 raise proposal is 16,336,643.00. This includes UTC, UTK and all campuses - the entire system.

The cost of a 3% raise is 17,473,716.00.

There are 810 UT employees making less than 20,000 a year. There are 2040 making less than 25,000 a year.

There are 157 administrators making over 100,00 a year. An additional 24 that are listed as "professionals" (but are not faculty) make over 100,000 a year.

With statistics like these, could there be a better time for the union on this campus?

$1200 bill passes the House Higher Education and Education Committees!
Updated May 22, 2005
The 2005 Fair Raise Campaign has overcome its first hurdles in pushing for the flat $1200 raise. Both the Tennessee House Higher Education Committee and Education Committee recommended passage of House bill 126; subsequently it was referred to the Finance Ways and Means Committee, and it is now "on call".

Over the past month, a number of UCW-CWA members have lobbied for this raise that will affect all higher education employees in the state. Additionally, State Representatives including Tommie Brown, Harry Tindell and Tim Burchett have spoken and organized forcefully for the bill's passage.

The text of each current legislative bill [2005] are linked below
[and full .pdf versions are linked from each respective page]
$1200 Flat Raise legislation
+ House bill 0126 [same as Senate bill 0790]
+ UCW-CWA's talking points

Payroll deduction legislation
+ House bill 0293 [same as Senate bill 0791]
+ UCW-CWA's talking points

Two wage studies provided to legislators [both in .pdf format only]
+ Faculty and administrative compensation by Grady Bogue.
+ UT Wage Study from 2000
With a detailed analysis of the injustice of the non-exempt wage structure at the
University of Tennessee - and the need for a living wage

Below is an article in the UT Knoxville Daily Beacon about the union's 2005 Fair Raise Campaign for a flat $1200 raise. We are making some headway with getting support among our legislators, as the article details. The union's current membership is 210 UT employees, and we need for other employees to join with us, so we gain more strength and power to get the raises and justice we need!
Beacon article: UT employees may see flat raise 02.23.05

03.01.05
Knox County Legislative Town Hall Report
This past Saturday, February 26 2005, members of the Knox County Legislative Delegation had a town hall meeting at the Knoxville City County Building to hear from constituents about issues of concern.

Gale Brewer, UCW-CWA member and secretary in the College of Education, addressed the body on our need for a flat $1200 raise.

02.07.05
A milestone for the union
The union has reached a significant milestone in its history - we have introduced our first bills to the Tennessee legislature!