Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 375]

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372

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[July 14

retrenchment program in the next few years similar to that which we went through approximately seven years ago. 2. Regardless of the needs for building maintenance, however, the University will probably always have to pay the prevailing local wage rates. T h e term "prevailing local rate" however, should, in our opinion, mean the rate actually paid and not that requested by organizations but not in effect locally. In other words, it is our suggestion that the University should follow but not determine the prevailing local rates. 3. That the maximum work week should be reduced from 48 to 44 hours except for police and watchmen, and Fire Station. This will affect the following groups: j a n i t o r s ; groundsmen; heat, light, and power; water station; and trucks and cars. 4. It is our proposal, therefore, to make the following wage increases instead of those previously recommended to you. (a) Janitors—Urbana W e recommend that the janitors be offered the same basic annual wage, that is, excluding overtime, Sundays, and holidays, but on a 44-hour week schedule instead of the 48-hour week. This will result in an hourly rate of approximately 61 cents, or that recommended by the Committee on Wages. We hope to be able to accomplish this without additional cost to the University and without lowering materially the standard of janitor service in the buildings. W e further recommend that the above rate be paid for all overtime, Sundays, and holidays instead of that requested. We believe that the above may be considered the prevailing local rate because of the following: (1) Even the present rate in effect for janitors is above that now paid in the Urbana Public Schools. It will equal the rate paid in the Champaign Public Schools but, in addition, offers a retiring allowance which is not available to the janitors in Champaign. Although the janitors have requested and will be quite disappointed if they do not receive the 70-cent rate, together with time and a half for overtime and double time for Sundays and holidays, we have been unable to find that this is paid anywhere in this community, nor do we even find any provisions for the increased rate for Sundays, overtime, and holidays. (2) The proposed rate is equal to or above the prevailing rates paid for other institutional work of this character in the state although not equal to the maximum which is $125 per month. ( b ) Mill Men Since our recommendation that this rate be increased from 95 cents to $1.25, we believe that the University has the only union-operated mill in town and hence the rate requested is not prevailing in the community, and we propose to try to operate on the present rate. (c) Painters Apparently the proposed rate increase from $1,125/2 to $1.25 is now being paid locally, and in accordance with the above policy, we will have to pay it and intend to offset this increased cost by reducing the amount of work performed. ( d ) Police W e propose to pay the rate recommended by the Committee on Wages, or 66 cents per hour for a 48-hour week, which is equal to that paid by the City of Urbana, although the City of Champaign now pays $150 per month. ( e ) Fire Station W e propose to pay the rate recommended by the Committee on Wages, or $135 per month, which is equal to that paid by the City of Urbana, although the City of Champaign now pays $150 per month. W e recently received a formal request for a rate of $150 per month. As I advised you, we do not believe that the bill referred to in the request applies to the University. T h e payment of the rate now in effect in the City of Urbana by the University will make that rate the prevailing wage in this community.