Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1938 [PAGE 37]

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1936]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

35

each, f.o.b. Cleveland, Ohio, and that an assignment for this purchase has been made from the reserve fund of the Association.

On motion of Dr. Meyer, this action was confirmed.

REQUESTS OF LABOR UNIONS FOR INCREASES IN WAGE SCALES OF THE UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES IN BUILDING CRAFTS (27) T h e Director of the Physical Plant Department reports that it has recently been necessary to meet certain union wage scales in the Chicago Departments which would involve an annual increase of approximately $9,360 in the operation of that Department if the maintenance program on the former standard were continued. Since additional funds could not be provided, it has been necessary to operate on a somewhat reduced program in the Chicago Departments. T h e Director reports that he is facing the same problem in the Urbana Departments. T h e Building T r a d e s Council of Champaign and Urbana has requested an increase in the wage scales of all affiliated crafts to the standard of the 1930-1932 agreement, effective November 1, 1936. This would involve an increase of approximately twenty-five per cent over the present wage scales of University employees in those crafts. T o determine the effect of these increases upon the University budget, the Director has made the following estimates, based upon the 1935-1936 expenditures of his Department: 1. The additional annual cost to the University will be approximately $32 S65 00 2. The additional annual cost to the Physical Plant Department will be approximately 21 334 00 3. If in effect only eight months, the additional cost to the University will be approximately 21 710 00 4. If in effect only eight months, the additional cost to the Physical Plant Department will be approximately 14 222 00 It is also necessary to consider the effect of such a change on other employees not members of labor unions. Blanket increases among a limited group will naturally cause dissension among other employees who probably need even more help because their present wage scales are lower. In addition to this contingency increases in the prices of materials and the cost of utilities are reducing the amount of work which can be done by the Physical Plant Department under its existing appropriation. It has been the policy of the University to pay the prevailing local wages. T h e Director of the Physical Plant Department recommends that as a matter of policy the University defer action on the notice of the Building Trades Council until some decision has been reached by the Council and the Champaign County Builders League, an association of contractors. Since the University employs more local union men than all of the other contractors, any previous action on the part of the University would definitely affect the decision on the proposal of the unions.

This report was received for record.

PURCHASE OF COAL

Mr. Mayer, for the special committee to consider the purchase of coal (Minutes, October 26, 1935, page 452), reported that as a result of investigations by Professor D. R. Mitchell and members of the staff of the Physical Plant Department and the Purchasing Agent's Office, the specifications for coal to be purchased for the Power Plant have been revised. On motion of Mr. Mayer, this report was accepted and the special committee was discharged.

EXTENSION OF BOYDEN MORTGAGE

Mr. Mayer presented a recommendation of the Finance Committee that the Board of Trustees authorize a consent to the extension of the