Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1944 [PAGE 337]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

334

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[April 29

would be reemployed at some indefinite time in the future. T h e validity of such an agreement might be open to question. T h e Retirement System Trustees make the point that all persons entering war service are entitled to protection for these risks furnished by the Federal Government, the implication being that it is therefore not essential that they also have the protection of the Retirement System while on leave. While this is true of those in military and naval service, many staff members on leave are engaged in important war work in civilian capacities, and such persons do not have the benefit of any special protection. T h e act creating the Retirement System of Illinois makes it obligatory for the institutions named to participate in the System, and it likewise provides that all eligible employees as of September I, 1941, shall participate in the system. T h e r e is no provision in the law for the withdrawal either of an employer or of an employee, by contract or otherwise, so long as the staff member is a qualified employee by the definition of the act. In asking an employee to resign we are in effect resorting to coercion in order to deprive a person who in spirit is supposedly, and is intended to be, entitled to the benefits of the law. In many cases private employers who have established retirement systems for their employees do not require them to surrender their rights when they are given leaves of absence for war service, but on the contrary maintain their participation in the benefits of such private systems. If a notice were sent to all staff members of the University now on leave for war service, whether in the armed forces or elsewhere, requesting their resignation, the University would in my opinion be open to public criticism for not carrying out its agreement and for adopting a policy which is hardly conducive to maintenance of the morale of those of its staff members who are in the armed services. Under the circumstances, I recommend that the Board of Trustees do not adopt the plan suggested by the Board of Trustees of the Retirement System.

On motion of Mr. Davis, it was voted that a leave of absence for military service in the future, or an extension of a present leave, to a participant in the University Retirement System, shall be granted only on the condition that he agree to permit the Retirement System to effect on his life a National Service Life Insurance policy with the Veterans Administration of the United States in the approximate amount of the additional death benefit to which his beneficiary may be entitled from the University Retirement System of Illinois, such insurance, to the extent that it covers the additional death benefit, to be accepted by the participant in lieu thereof, the premiums on such insurance to be paid by the Retirement System; provided, that all other employers under the Retirement System take similar action.* On motion of Mr. Davis, the leaves of absence for war service listed on pages 323 and 324 were granted subject to the above conditions.

BUDGET FOR 1 9 4 3 - 1 9 4 5 (30) A statement on the appropriations recommended for the University for 1943-1945 as reported to the General Assembly by the Governor in the State Budget.

Mr. Morey presented the details of this matter. The President of the Board was requested to take up this matter with the Governor. CIVIL SERVICE SALARY AND WAGE POLICY (31) A statement from the Comptroller on the policy on wages and salaries of civil service employees. Mr. Morey presented this matter. This matter was referred to the Committee on Civil Service and Employees for study and recommendation to the Board.

*This action was rescinded in the meeting of August 31, 1943, page 509.