Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1958 [PAGE 1097]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[January 16

through the University, the entire cost of the addition to the distribution system, plus any investment charges and other indirect costs incurred by the Steam Company as a result of the addition to the distribution system. 5. T h e University will furnish steam as needed by Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital not to exceed 85,000 pounds an hour. 6. Steam supplied to Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital will be on a metered basis, in the same way as to other consumers of steam from the plant. Presbyterian-St. Luke's will be billed by the University monthly for the cost of steam produced, such costs to be determined by the formula used in contracts with other consumers. T o this steam cost, the University will add an overhead charge: first $50,000 of steam cost billings in one year, 10 per cent; next $50,000 of steam cost billings in the same year, 754 per cent; and 5 per cent of all steam cost billings in excess of $100,000 in the same year. The Vice-President in charge of the Chicago Professional Colleges joins in this recommendation. I concur and recommend that the Comptroller and the Secretary of the Board be authorized to execute a contract with Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital drawn up in accordance with the above terms and provisions.

On motion of Mrs. Watkins, this recommendation was approved, and the Comptroller and the Secretary of the Board were authorized to execute the contract.

ARBITRATION T O DETERMINE L A B O R E R - E L E C T R I C I A N W A G E RATE (13) Negotiations with University of Illinois Local 698, State, County, and Municipal Employees Union, to determine an appropriate wage rate for University laborer-electricians, to be effective as of July I, 1957, having been carried on for several months without resulting in a settlement, it has now been proposed by the Director of Nonacademic Personnel and the Union: that the issue be submitted to final and binding arbitration, the arbitrator to be chosen jointly from a list of names supplied by either the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service or the American Arbitration Association; that a hearing be held within thirty days; that both parties agree to be bound by the decision; and that the fee and expenses of the arbitrator be shared equally by both parties. It is also proposed that the following questions be submitted to the arbitrator for decision on the basis of information to be supplied by both parties: 1. Shall the laborer-electricians receive an adjustment of twenty cents an hour effective July 1, 1957, and twelve cents an hour effective July 1, 1958, as advocated by the Union? 2. Shall the laborer-electricians receive an adjustment of seven and one-half cents an hour effective July 1, 1957, and five cents an hour effective July 1, 1958, as advocated by the employer? 3. Shall the laborer-electricians receive an adjustment effective July 1, 1957, and an adjustment effective July I, 1958, that falls between the adjustments proposed in (1) and (2) in an amount to be determined by the arbitrator? It is further proposed that pending a decision, laborer-electricians shall receive an increase of seven and one-half cents an hour now, retroactive to July 1. 1957, and shall receive the difference, effective July 1, 1957, if the arbitrator makes a further award. Normally, the University prefers negotiation rather than arbitration as a means of settling wage rates, because the University must be governed by funds available, by commitments to other groups, and by rates prevailing elsewhere in the community. In this particular case, the employee group is small' (presently fourteen), funds are available to provide for the requested increase if it is found equitable, and the University should not appear unyielding on an issue where the difference lends itself to the informed judgment of a third party. Hence, I recommend that the Board of Trustees authorize these proceedings and accept the findings, not as a precedent but in recognition of the circumstances which set this case apart from the usual categories of wage rate negotiations and justify such special consideration.

On motion of Mr. Johnston, this recommendation was approved.