Worker satisfaction low; better pay, benefits sought
Chloe Morrison
Issue date: 3/5/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The United Campus Workers, a union for all employees of the University of Tennessee system, hosted a rally on March 2 to voice dissatisfaction with employee pay; meanwhile, some UTC employees continue to feel they are not deemed valuable by the administration.
Sandy Hicks, president of the United Campus Workers, said their goal is simple.
"Our goal is to see that [employees] get fair wages, fair benefits," Hicks said.
Hicks said most UT system employees are underpaid.
"They are underpaid so much that they qualify for government assistance," Hicks said.
The Echo has reported that in the past year, some faculty and staff at UTC have voiced disapproval with administration and expressed that they are underpaid.
However, staff members were recently voicing dissatisfaction with more than just pay.
UTC opened two hours late on Feb. 26 due to inclement weather and according to Steve Smith, a staff member in facilities, UTC staff members received unfair treatment on the snow day.
Smith has been at UTC for almost 14 years and he said he has never been differentiated from the faculty and students. However, Smith said on the recent snow day, the staff was required to come in on time while everyone else in the university reported two hours late.
According to Smith, this sends a message to all staff members that the administration does not value staff members.
There has been discussion about the snow day over the faculty and staff list serve, Raven.
Yvonne Kilpatrick, a staff member in the Physical Therapy department wrote on the list serve and requested justification for staff having to report on time.
"I must ask, as others have, but also request a response to the justification for making a differentiation in staff and students and faculty as the decision was made to delay opening Thursday morning," wrote Kilpatrick.
Mike Roeser, a staff member in Technical Support Services, wrote,"The words "staff differentiation" makes a person feel non-essential, doesn't it?"
According to Hicks, the way employees can get what they deserve is to fight for it.
"I would like to see people get mad and start fighting," Hicks said.
"[Employees] are being dumped on and they get in the mode that nothing can be done, but if you get together and organize, you can do something."
Smith said that even though he is not a part of the United Campus Workers, he does think a rally may be productive. However, he said it is inconvenient that the rally is in Knoxville.
According to Smith, the United Campus Workers should come to UTC to rally. He said he could not miss a day of work to drive to Knoxville to be involved in the rally.
Hicks said this rally is one of the first that has been held.
"We haven't had any that often," Hicks said. "I'd like to see us have more. It gets the word out to not just the employees but to the community. It lets [everyone] know that we are dissatisfied."
Sandy Hicks, president of the United Campus Workers, said their goal is simple.
"Our goal is to see that [employees] get fair wages, fair benefits," Hicks said.
Hicks said most UT system employees are underpaid.
"They are underpaid so much that they qualify for government assistance," Hicks said.
The Echo has reported that in the past year, some faculty and staff at UTC have voiced disapproval with administration and expressed that they are underpaid.
However, staff members were recently voicing dissatisfaction with more than just pay.
UTC opened two hours late on Feb. 26 due to inclement weather and according to Steve Smith, a staff member in facilities, UTC staff members received unfair treatment on the snow day.
Smith has been at UTC for almost 14 years and he said he has never been differentiated from the faculty and students. However, Smith said on the recent snow day, the staff was required to come in on time while everyone else in the university reported two hours late.
According to Smith, this sends a message to all staff members that the administration does not value staff members.
There has been discussion about the snow day over the faculty and staff list serve, Raven.
Yvonne Kilpatrick, a staff member in the Physical Therapy department wrote on the list serve and requested justification for staff having to report on time.
"I must ask, as others have, but also request a response to the justification for making a differentiation in staff and students and faculty as the decision was made to delay opening Thursday morning," wrote Kilpatrick.
Mike Roeser, a staff member in Technical Support Services, wrote,"The words "staff differentiation" makes a person feel non-essential, doesn't it?"
According to Hicks, the way employees can get what they deserve is to fight for it.
"I would like to see people get mad and start fighting," Hicks said.
"[Employees] are being dumped on and they get in the mode that nothing can be done, but if you get together and organize, you can do something."
Smith said that even though he is not a part of the United Campus Workers, he does think a rally may be productive. However, he said it is inconvenient that the rally is in Knoxville.
According to Smith, the United Campus Workers should come to UTC to rally. He said he could not miss a day of work to drive to Knoxville to be involved in the rally.
Hicks said this rally is one of the first that has been held.
"We haven't had any that often," Hicks said. "I'd like to see us have more. It gets the word out to not just the employees but to the community. It lets [everyone] know that we are dissatisfied."
