The Appalachian State University
Faculty Senate unanimously passed a resolution of support for Appalachian
staff salary increases during its Oct. 14 meeting in response to
efforts made by faculty members across North Carolina attempting
to assist their coworkers.
The motion passed by Faculty Senate stated the faculty’s desire
to cooperate with Appalachian’s staff to improve their quality
of life and called upon the North Carolina General Assembly to do
its part to increase staff wages across the state.
Discussion arose at the Oct. 14 meeting of Appalachian’s Faculty
Senate concerning efforts made by faculty at the University of North
Carolina at Greensboro to raise money independent of the university
for their staff.
“I think that the measures that were taken at this senate meeting
will be equal [to UNCG] if not better for the staff in the long
run,” said Human Resources Director Len Johnson. “Collecting
money will help at first but will not get to the root cause of the
problem.”
Johnson gave an informal report to the Faculty
Senate concerning the many legal issues UNCG is facing regarding
their fundraising and suggested the faculty may have to give the
money they have already collected back to donors and organize a
new plan.
Johnson listed problems with the UNCG staff collection, including
the inability of the faculty to use the school’s payroll system
to distribute the money, issues concerning taxes on the money and
probable inequities in the distribution of the money.
Dr. Ben Ramsey, chairperson of the Faculty Senate at UNCG, said
just the opposite is true. The donation will be organized as a tax-free
gift to staff members, and a committee consisting of UNCG faculty
and staff are currently collaborating to determine how the money
will be distributed.
Ramsey said many staff members whose pay range falls in the higher
pay brackets have requested not to be included in the donation so
that more money can be distributed among those needing it most.
Ramsey said the money will likely be distributed in increments of
$500 and will be given to staff members beginning with the lowest
pay grade and moving upwards.
“This has within it a kind of implicit demand that staff salaries
be reviewed and made more just,” Ramsey said.
The Faculty Senate at Appalachian also raised concerns that the
legislature may slack off in its responsibility to university staff
members.
Ramsey has been in contact with members of the state legislature
who feel UNCG’s efforts have been a revelation for the legislature
and feel a more permanent action will be taken by the state in the
future.
Meanwhile, Ramsey said other universities, such as the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of North Carolina
at Charlotte and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington
are currently looking at ways to implement a fundraiser for the
staff similar to UNCG’s.
“It seems the discrepancy lies with the need to be cautious,
with real concerns of equity and of individual need to distribute
the money,” said Dr. Paul H. Gates Jr., chairperson of the
Appalachian Faculty Senate.
Faculty Senate member Martha A. Marking presented the resolution
of support and made a case for its acceptance, stating the importance
of making the legislature aware of faculty and staff concerns. Marking
and other faculty members felt sending this resolution to the state
legislature would be the most appropriate and effective course of
action for the Faculty Senate.
“I’m not sure how directly aware the legislature is of
what the individual faculty senates do,” Gates said. “I
hope some word of what we’ve done will trickle down to them.
I think combined with other campuses, the message will get to them.”
The Faculty Senate hopes to act upon their resolution
to support Appalachian’s staff by creating a liaison position
between Faculty Senate and Staff Council. One member from each organization
will attend the other meeting and keep their own organization abreast
of news concerning either group.
Gates said the Faculty Senate plans to stay on top of the issue,
which is currently being reviewed again by the administration, but
hopes the legislature will respond to the resolutions passed by
Appalachian, as well as other schools in North Carolina.
“Whatever we do on this campus is a temporary fix,” Gates
said. “The long-term solutions and the responsibility of finding
them lie with the legislature.” |
