The attached flier summarizes
research on wages and staffing at the collegiate/unit level at the U.
The data is based on research conducted by your AFSCME bargaining committee.
In response to requests under the Minnesota Data Practices Statute,
the U provided us with staffing and wage lists from late October 2008
and early January of this year. The U also provided a list of all wage
increases paid in fiscal year 2011, ending July 1.
Findings
The data showed significant disparities between employee groups, in the number of positions eliminated since the hiring pause began, as well as in wage increases given last year. Most employee groups lost a significant number of jobs (an average of 10.9% across University employee groups), while Academic Administrators lost only 1.18% –only 26 jobs! The expected wage increase last year was about .85% (see explanation in 10/3/11 email from AFSCME— available at www.afscme3800.org). AFSCME 3800 members received an average wage increase of .95% (not including the 4% loss in step increases), but the academic administrative group received an average 2.15% increase!
Staffing and wage disparities
The following units show significant disparities between employee groups, both in the number of positions eliminated since the hiring pause began in November 2008 and in wage increases given last year.
| College/Unit |
If Academic Administrator (AA Employee group) jobs had been eliminated at the same rate (10.9%) as other University positions, this amount would have been saved by the college/unit | Average
management raises (after accounting for the 1.15% Temporary Reduction in Pay) |
| ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, SR VP | $ 893,235 | 1.75% |
| ACADEMIC HEALTH CTR-SHARED | $ 2,656,815 | 4.18% |
| ATHLETICS | $ 1,958,145 | 3.03% |
| EDUCATION & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | $ 145,740 | 6.38% |
| EXTENSION | $ 1,730,715 | 1.49% |
| FACILITIES MANAGEMENT | $ 440,895 | 1.92% |
| INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | $ 320,460 | 2.11% |
| LAW SCHOOL | $ 379,680 | 5.29% |
| MEDICAL SCHOOL | $ 1,619,730 | 18.67% |
| CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT | $ 833,490 | 2.04% |
| NURSING | $ 114,450 | 1.68% |
| PHARMACY | $ 448,350 | 3.26% |
| PUBLIC HEALTH | $ 1,467,480 | 2.51% |
| RESEARCH | $ 1,799,910 | 1.68% |
| SCIENCE/ENGINEERING | $ 422,940 | 3.61% |
| SYSTEM ACADEMIC ADMIN, SR VP | $ 1,530,690 | 2.03% |
| UMC ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT | $ 45,780 | 2.42% |
| UMD-ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION | $ 219,450 | 1.55% |
| UMD-FINANCE & OPERATIONS | $ 150,780 | 4.54% |
| UMD-INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS | $ 45,780 | 1.84% |
| UMD-STUDENT LIFE ACTIVITIES | $ 34,335 | 1.52% |
| UMM-STUDENT AFFAIRS | $ 776,790 | 1.46% |
| UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION | $ 1,302,735 | 2.33% |
Staffing disparities
The following units show
significant disparities between employee groups in the number of
positions eliminated since the hiring pause began.
| College/Unit |
If Academic Administrator (AA Employee group) jobs had been eliminated at the same rate (10.9%) as other University positions, this amount would have been saved by the college/unit |
| UMD-SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | $ 173,670 |
| INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFICE | $ 807,135 |
| AUXILIARY SERVICES | $ 572,250 |
| BUDGET & FINANCE | $ 112,455 |
| COLLEGE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION | $ 270,690 |
| DESIGN | $ 517,020 |
| FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES | $ 1,618,260 |
| HUMAN RESOURCES | $ 562,800 |
| VP OF SCHOLARLY/CULTURAL AFFAIRS | $ 173,670 |
| UMC-FINANCE AND OPERATIONS | $ 22,890 |
| UMD-OFFICE OF ACADEMIC SUPPORT & STUDENT LIFE | $ 347,340 |
| UMD-SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | $ 208,005 |
| UMD-LIBRARY | $ 45,780 |
| UMM-OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS | $ 324,450 |
| UMR-CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE | $ 18,900 |
| VP FOR UNIVERSITY SERVICES | $ 112,455 |
| OFFICE OF EQUITY/DIVERSITY | $ 667,800 |
| OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY | $ 45,780 |
| OFFICE OF STUDENT AFFAIRS | $ 1,524,705 |
| UMC-OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS | $ 208,005 |
| UMD-SWENSON COLLEGE | $ 91,560 |
| UMD-OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS | $ 68,670 |
| UMM-COLLEGE OF ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY EDUCATION | $ 22,890 |
| UMM-FINANCE OFFICE | $ 210,000 |
| VETERINARY MEDICINE | $ 484,680 |
| UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF HEALTH AND SAFETY | $ 80,115 |
Wage disparities
The following units show significant disparities between employee groups in wage increases given last year.
| College/Unit: | Average management raises (after accounting for the 1.15% Temporary Reduction in Pay) |
| AUDITS | 1.38% |
| BOYNTON | 2.24% |
| HEALTH SCIENCES | 2.61% |
| SYSTEM ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION | 1.63% |
| UMC-CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE | 0.93% |
| UMD-CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE | 0.85% |
| UMM-CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE | 1.67% |
| UNIVERSITY RELATIONS | 2.31% |
Minimal disparities
The following units show minimal or no disparities between employee groups in the number of positions eliminated since the hiring pause began and in wage increases given last year.
| College/Unit: |
| DENTISTRY |
| UMC-ACADEMIC AFFAIRS OFFICE |
| BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES |
| UMM-GENERAL SERVICES OFFICE |
| UMM-DIVISION OF HUMANITIES |
| UMM-SCIENCE & MATH DIV |
| UMM-SOCIAL SCIENCES DIV |
| AG EXPERIMENT STATION |
| CONTROLLER'S OFFICE |
| GRADUATE SCHOOL |
| HUMPHREY SCHOOL |
| CLA |
| UNIVERISTY LIBRARIES |
| OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT |
| UMD-FACILITIES MNGT OFFICE |
| UMD-CONTINUING ED DEPT |
| UMD-EDUCATION COLLEGE |
| UMD-FINE ARTS SCHOOL |
| UMD-INFO SERVICES OFFICE |
| UMD-CLA |
| UMD-NRI |
| UMD-AUXILIARY SERVICES |
Where did the money come from to fund wage increases above the allocated .85%?
Human Resources staff told AFSCME’s bargaining committee they don’t know. Collegiate administrative units can augment the compensation budget from central with funds from any revenue source. When asked, HR managers did not deny the possibility that management merit increases were paid for, at least in part, with money gained from the AFSCME furlough. The funds captured from the furlough stayed in the collegiate administrative units, and colleges were allowed to use the furlough funds however they saw fit.
What we are asking for in negotiations
At the bargaining table, our
union’s negotiating committee is arguing for fair wages, affordable
healthcare and job security for Union staff. Though administrators found
money to protect middle management jobs and raises, they say that money
is not available for our raises. In bargaining, management has proposed
wage freezes and no step increases in the first year of the contract.
For the second, they have proposed step increases but no across the
board increase. In our last round of bargaining, management offered
an additional 0.05% increase in the second year. For the average clerical
worker, this amounts to .86 of a penny per hour, or $20 per year!
In addition, the administration wants to raise the percentage of the health insurance premium paid by employees so that an additional $10 million can be funneled into the general fund. This proposed shift will increase the cost for single base plan coverage by $228.54 a year; for employee plus spouse and children, the increase will be $984.62 per year.
What you can do
The attached flier illustrates
that all U staff are not “sacrificing equally” in the current budget
crisis despite the public pronouncements of U leaders. Please print
and distribute the flier to anyone who might be interested.
Please call or email your dean
and President Kaler on Wednesday to tell them to end the disparity in
job security and raises at the U. On Thursday and Friday, please call
or email President Kaler and the Board of Regents.
Your AFSCME bargaining committee:
Phyllis Walker
Mary Lou Middleton
Cherrene Horazuk
Andy Carhart
Polly Peterson
Doug Sembla
Mary Snyder
Ginger Nohl
Judy Borrell
Rick Castillo
Kem Tae Lynch
Kurt Errickson, Council 5 Negotiator
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Because Flier - college - 10.11.11.pdf | 170.7 KB |