Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 128]

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1938]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

125

current biennium and recommended that the request be given further consideration in connection with the budget for 1939-1941. This recommendation was affirmed by the Board on April 27. In considering the latest request the Committee on Wages calls attention to the following facts: 1. As far as we can determine there is no wage scale in this community for similar service which is as high as the scale which is requested. While the rate per hour is the same as Class B, common laborer, such labor does not receive continuous employment at that rate and has no perquisites with respect to vacations or sick leave. T h e rate paid is only during periods of actual employment which is very rarely for a full year continuously. The University janitors are employed continuously through the 12 months of the year. 2. An increase of this kind would require increases in many other groups of employees in most of which such increases are not requested and, in the judgment of the Committee, not justified at this time. 3. T h e rate of pay for janitors is now above that paid prior to salary and wage cuts in 1933 (50^ to 550 an h o u r ) . It is true that the rates of pay for many of the skilled trades are above the 1932 r a t e s ; however, such rates are paid only when the workman is employed and in practically no case do such workmen receive employment continuously throughout the year. It is our understanding that earnings of as much as $1200 a year, even among the skilled trades in this community, are the exception rather than the rule. 4. These employees are now receiving a rate above that in force before reduction, while the average salaries of all ranks of our faculty are below those paid in 1932. 5. T h e proposed increase represents an increase of about 2 5 % in the rate of pay. It is obvious that such an increase cannot be carried out among the entire staff of employees of the University. W e believe there is no instance where as large a rate of increase for a single group of employees has been put into effect at one time. It should also be pointed out that from June, 1933, to January, 1938, the average weekly earnings of industrial plant wage workers, as compiled by the National Industrial Conference Board {Chicago Journal of Commerce, October 2, 1938), have steadily declined and during the current calendar year have continued practically unchanged on a level about equal to 1936. 6. Approval of this request would involve, including necessary adjustments in other groups, an increase of $71,000 a year for Physical Plant Department employees alone. Necessary adjustments in agricultural and other employees to maintain an equitable relationship in the wage scales of the various groups probably would bring this total to $100,000 per year or $200,000 for a biennial period. In view of these facts the Committee cannot recommend approval of the requested rate of 70(f an hour. Such an increase does not appear to the Committee justifiable at this time, in view of employment conditions, and it is too early to anticipate what these conditions may be next July. The Committee notes the fact that janitors and some other groups of employees work 48 hours a week as a regular schedule. In view of the steady trend toward shorter work weeks for all classes of service, it is its belief that this schedule needs readjustment at the earliest opportunity. In view of the fact that the budget is now set for the current year and, as indicated to the employees a few weeks ago, additional funds for this purpose are not available now, it is obvious that the earliest time that such a change could be put into effect would be July I, 1939. In view of all these considerations, the Committee makes the following recommendations: 1. T h a t the University endeavor to provide in its budget for the coming biennium a contingent fund which would make possible the following changes: ( a ) Provision for time and one-half for overtime and double time for Sundays and other holidays for janitors and other employees to the extent practicable.