Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 694]

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1940]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

69I

This is no new policy as far as the University is concerned. It has many limes since its organization constructed buildings and completed improvements when, for one reason or another, the public interest seemed better served by not letting the job to a private contractor. This policy has resulted in large savings to the State and in no detriment to any labor interest. In the present instance the net savings to the State would exceed $10,000. In all construction work undertaken by the University, only union men have been employed and for union wages, on union hours, and under union conditions; men injured in the course of the employment have been compensated regularly on the scale provided in the State Workmen's Compensation law, and no complaint on this score has ever been made by any employee; and the relations of the University with local union men and local union leaders have been uniformly cordial and mutually satisfactory. F r o m statements made by representatives of the union to University officials on Wednesday, it appears that the fact that the local union is not complaining on any point is of no consequence since the national union came into the picture and ordered the strike. When pressed for reasons for ordering a strike on three buildings now under construction on the campus by contractors having no connection whatsoever with the tunnel project, it was stated that the following reasons led to the decision to demand that the University engage a private contractor: (1) inadequate protection under the workmen's compensation and occupational disease law if the University did the w o r k ; (2) loss of social security privileges if the University rather than a private contractor did the work. T h e University is entirely willing, is prepared and will assure the labor organization concerned that the following conditions will be observed in the installation of the piping in the tunnel by the University or under its supervision: ( l ) the University is prepared and has made tentative arrangements to provide workmen's compensation insurance which will accord to all men employed on the project all the rights and privileges available to them under the state workmen's compensation and occupational disease law; (2) the University will provide such employees all the privileges to which they may be entitled under the federal social security law; and (3) in accordance with established policy the University will employ on this job only union plumbers and steam fitters, in such numbers as may be required to complete the installation, at union wages and under all customary union conditions. T h e Executive Committee believes that the foregoing proposal in substance meets all objections which were assigned by representatives of the union at the conference on Wednesday against construction by the University rather than by a private contractor. On one point the University's position must be made clear. It cannot agree to waive the duty or surrender the power it now has under the law to do its own work when, in the judgment of the Board, the public interest will be best served thereby. Under its charter the General Assembly has made it the duty of the Board of Trustees and explicity empowered it to provide building facilities and equipment to operate the University of Illinois. This power the Board has many times performed and will not surrender by contract or otherwise.

The President of the University was authorized to formulate and transmit to representatives of the union the proposals set forth above. On motion of Mr. Moschel, the Executive Committee authorized acceptance of the offer of the University of Illinois Foundation when and if the United Association of Journeymen Plumbers and Steam Fitters agrees to the conditions set forth therein.

RESOLUTIONS APPROVING COMPLETION OF CONTRACTS ON P.W.A. PROJECTS

The Director of the Physical Plant Department presented the following resolutions.