We've heard from many of you who are concerned about the e-mail you received from the University, containing information about their "settlement offer."

The University would have you believe that their general wage increase proposal for the Clerical and Technical employees is 4.25%, adding together a 2.25% annual increase and 2% steps; the offer is 2.5% + steps for the Health Care employees.

This is grossly misleading. Historically, our steps were never costed out as part of the annual wage increase. When AFSCME Locals 3800 and 3937 negotiated their first contracts with the University, both parties agreed to a wage grid for each job classification. We also agreed that each Clerical and Technical employee would receive an annual 2% step increase each year to move us through the salary grids and up to the top of the pay scale. The top of these grids are the true value of our jobs, the wage the University says is what they are willing to pay for a long-term, experienced worker.

Steps are a recognition of our experience, skills and loyalty. They were never intended to be used as part of a cost-of-living increase. The University and AFSCME agreed that the July 1 increase is meant to address the cost of living and inflation.

This is not the first time the University has made an attack on our steps. It happened four years ago in contract negotiations when the University tried to take away the Clerical salary scales/grids along with our step increases­ the Clerical workers stopped them by going on strike. Two years ago in negotiations the University tried again to take away salary scales/grids; then, the Technical and Health Care workers stepped up to join the Clerical workers to prevent the University from gutting our step structure.

Now we are all at the negotiations table together, and the University is making this indirect maneuver to get rid of steps in all our contracts. If we allow the University to count our step increases as part of our July 1 general wage increase, then the University will have succeeded in what they have failed to do in our last two negotiations - ­take away our step increases.

The University's proposal to include our step increases as part of our cost-of-living July 1 increase is a huge issue for our members and they have told us time and time again that they will fight if the U tries to tamper with our steps in any way.

We urge you to take a look at the University's offer in the light of day, and consider what it would mean if you agree to let our steps fade away into the general wage increase.