Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1938 [PAGE 683]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1938]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

681

submitted by t h e janitors would represent an average of about $125 a month excluding overtime. "Janitors in other local institutions receive, according to latest information available, from $75 to $120 a month. T h e best scale of wages appears to be in the Champaign Public Schools where the scale is from $90 to $120 for regular time. "At other universities, more or less comparable to Illinois, t h e rates of pay range from $90 to $125 a month. "The Committee has considered carefully the latest request and again has reached the conclusion that it is not feasible to accede to this request for the following reasons: " ( 1 ) T h e income for the current biennium consists mainly of State appropriations which a r e definitely set for t w o years in advance. Practically no change is possible during the second year of the biennium, since t h e income for that year is substantially t h e same as for the first year. Such increase as is available must be applied toward additional staff, both instructional and operating, and to such special adjustments as may be found necessary. " ( 2 ) T h e general reserve of the University has suffered heavy inroads of an unexpected character during the past year due to the repairs necessary in the Auditorium and to the necessity of evacuating University Hall. " ( 3 ) T o make a general increase in any one group of employees would necessitate reconsideration of the rates for many other wage groups, especially in the Physical Plant and in Agriculture. T h e amount of such adjustments would at least equal the amount required to adjust janitors' wages, so that t h e total added expenditure probably would be from $25,000 to $30,000 a year. F r o m the information we have, we a r e convinced the University budget would not stand such an addition. " ( 4 ) T o make a general revision in wages of employees at this time would bring the University face to face with a serious problem concerning its faculty. At t h e present time t h e salaries of approximately 25 per cent of t h e members of the staff a r e below the salaries received by these persons in 1932-1933. T h e average salary of the members of the instructional staff is about 10 per cent below that in effect in 1932-1933. "In view of these considerations, the Committee feels that the only action that is possible on the petition of these employees is that it be received for consideration in connection with the budget of t h e next biennium. " T h e Committee points out that the situation with respect to these employees is somewhat different than it was a few months ago. In the interval a division of the American Federation of Labor, embracing such employees, has been organized in this community and the majority of t h e University janitors have become members. T h e request for an increase in wages is now submitted by this organization. If this request is not granted the organization might see fit to call off its members from University service. It is possible that other divisions of the Federation of Labor might take similar action, in which case a problem of some proportions might be presented. Nevertheless, the Committee does not see how the request can be approved without reductions and revisions in the budget for the current year at other points with consequent results of a serious character."

RESTORATION OF SALARIES I N THE BUDGET FOR THE CURRENT YEAR (1937-1938)

During t h e current year (1937-1938) there a r e 355 full-time members of the staff whose salaries have not yet been restored t o the 1932 basis preceding the two cuts which became effective March 1 and July I, 1933. A m o n g these a r e a number of individuals whom the heads of t h e departments and t h e deans of the colleges concerned would readily recommend for complete restoration if sufficient funds were available t o provide for this as well as other educational needs. T o restore the salaries of all of these people would involve an increase of approximately $96,000 in the annual budget.