Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1942 [PAGE 18]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1940]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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institution and is more familiar with the work than any other concern. Since its proposal is so much lower than that of English Brothers the Purchasing Agent recommends, and the Comptroller concurs, that the order be given to the Dennis Trucking Company. No specific date was set for the receipt of quotations and no notice of the award of contract has been given to English Brothers. 3. Exterior lighting fixtures for the Mini Union Building according to sketches and specifications prepared by the Physical Plant Department, from Ralph Watkins Metalcrafts, the lowest bidder, at a price of $1,000.

On motion of Mr. Adams, these purchases were authorized as recommended.

REQUEST FROM PHYSICAL PLANT EMPLOYEES FOR WAGE INCREASES (6) The Director of the Physical Plant Department has received the following requests from employees of his Department for increases in wages: 1. Machinists—from 85^ to $1.25 an hour. 2. Window washers (Chicago)—from 65^ an hour for 44 hours per week to $1.10 an hour for a 40-hour week. In addition, the Director has advised that electricians in Champaign-Urbana are seeking an increase from $1.25 to $1.50 an hour. If this increased rate is established, it would of course affect his Department, since it is the policy of the University to pay the wage rates prevailing in the local community. These requests were submitted to the standing faculty Committee on Wages and I present its report. T h e Committee recommends that 1. No change in the wage scale of machinists be made at the present time but that consideration be given at the beginning of the next biennium. 2. T h e rate of pay for window washers in Chicago be increased from 65(f to 72^ an hour for 40 hours a week. 3. Since there have been no developments with respect to the wage rates of electricians locally, the Committee has not considered it necessary to make any report on this item.

On motion of Mr. Williamson, the recommendations of the Committee on Wages were adopted.

RETIREMENT OF FRANK IRVINE (7) Mr. F r a n k Irvine, Grounds Foreman in the Physical Plant Department, has requested that he be retired from active service, effective September I, 1940, under the provisions in the University Statutes that in exceptional cases and for substantial cause retirement may be permitted at any time after the age of 65. Mr. Irvine is 66 years old, has been employed in the Department for 43 years, and his physical condition is such that he should not do any manual work of any kind. The retiring allowance due him under the Statutes is $1,040 a year.

On motion of Mrs. Plumb, this retirement was authorized. At this point, President Pogue returned.

GROUP INSURANCE OF MEMBERS OF MUTUAL BENEFIT HOSPITAL FUND (8) For many years there has been in operation at the University a mutual benefit hospital fund (popularly known as the "Hospital Association") which provides hospital benefits for students and members of the faculty. Participation in the fund is on a voluntary basis. Recently changes were made in its formal organization, establishing a Trusteeship of the fund in the University and setting up a joint faculty and student board to determine policies. The Dean of Men is Manager of the fund, and it is now known as the University of Illinois Mutual Benefit Hospital Fund. In the past two years overtures have been made to the University by insurance companies who are interested in writing group insurance policies, but these have not been given serious consideration because the companies could