Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1926 [PAGE 486]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1925]

UNIVERSITY O F ILLINOIS

483

Schedule E is a communication from Professor White's office dated December 4 showing the total amount that would have to be added to our budget for payrolls if this request were granted. Other matters of fact connected with the matter are these: The Wages Committee referred to before considered this matter in October, but did not see its way clear to acquiesce in the request. O n September 29 Professor White wrote Mr. Claude F. Peters, Secretary-Treasurer, Building Service Employees International Union in Chicago as follows: "This matter has been frequently and thoroly threshed out with the local federation and I did not know there was any request before us for an increase of fifteen cents an hour W e have always contended that these m e n were not entitled to the c o m m o n labor rate in the Twin Cities and I don't think our position on that point will be changed. These men are given permanent employment under the most favorable possible working conditions, with two weeks of vacation a year, with certain provisions for sick leave in addition, and beginning a year from now they will be eligible for a retiring allowance under the provisions which will go into effect at that time. I a m sure you will agree with m e that they are, under these circumstances, nearly twice as well off as the average wage earner whose employment is precarious and frequently under conditions which the janitors could not stand up under."

SCHEDULE E

This schedule shows the total increase which would result in case a general increase were made in the janitors' wages. A n increase in the janitors' wages would mean an increase in the wages of the groundsmen, and an increase in the wages of the groundsmen would mean an increase in the wages of certain of the agricultural laborers. The basis of the figures given is an assumed increase offivecents an hour in the rate of all janitors, groundsmen, and agricultural laborers employed, all temporary and part time employees being omitted. Dean Mumford stated that an increase in the wages of the agricultural laborers on an hourly basis would probably mean a similar increase for the farm laborers on a monthly basis. As there have been a number of increases made recently in this latter class it is assumed that an average increase of $5 a month would probably represent the total increase that would be necessary for the farm laborers on a monthly basis. All computations are based upon the payrolls for November, 1925. T h e payrolls for the Agricultural College were secured from the Bursar, and those for the janitors and groundsmen, from the office of the Superintendent of Buildings. The figures showing the additions to the total payroll which would be made necessary by granting the janitors' request are as follows: Total Increase Class of Employee Number Total Per Per employed Hours Month Year Agricultural (Hourly basis) 45 6,285 $314 s5 $3 77> 00 (Monthly basis)... 40 $5 per month 200 00 2 400 00 Groundsmen 17 4,728 236 40 2 836 80 Janitors 51 n,753 587 65 7 051 80 Total $133830 $1605960 Increases for the janitors and groundsmen who are on a monthly basis have not been taken into consideration. These figures show that to comply with the janitors' request would add $21,155 per year to our budget for them and $48,177 for all who would have to be raised.

COST OF LIVING

With reference to the cost of living the National Industrial Conference Board I 56.6 197.3 as the index number based on retail prices for 1920; 166.7 f°r I92Ii gives for 1922; 161.3 for 1923; 163.4 f°r I914- The average for the current year,