Staff Council Executive Committee Meeting with President Coleman
Monday, July 22, 2002, 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Present: Pat Arkema, Ella Born, Charlie Eastham, Jeff Evans, Dave Martin, Janice Simmons-Welburn
Absent: Susan Felker, Bonnie McIntosh
1. President Coleman’s Comments
a. Events out in the state: In conjunction with the Board of Regents Office and the other two state universities, President Coleman and Professor Boyd, in his role as Interim University of Iowa President, have been meeting with incumbents in various cities throughout the state. They have been to Mason City, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, and Davenport. There exists a real feeling that tuitions still are not high enough. This feeling seems to be true across party lines, not just by one party or the other. A concern that must be considered is that higher tuitions may cause flight from the state.
b. Budget request for FY 04: University administration is working on this now. They will keep full funding of salaries as the top priority. They will ask for restoration money; funds for items that have been cut previously. Renovation of the Chemistry Building will be the building project for which we will request funding.
c. The numbers for grants and contracts are quite high, up 23%. This represents a tremendous positive effect for the state as well as the university.
d. Furloughs/layoffs: President Coleman believes there will be very few layoffs. President Coleman deferred to Sue Buckley. Sue said that the situation for 12 merit staff is not resolved. Following Iowa Department of Personnel (IDOP) approval of the University of Iowa's layoff plan, up to 7 employees may receive actual layoff notices. However, these too could still be resolved. With regard to the P & S employees: 15 notices (6-12 month notices) have been sent out. These have not yet been resolved but still could be. Human Resources expects the number of layoffs for P & S staff could be somewhere between one and 15.
e. President Coleman mentioned that this Friday (7/26/02) would be her last day at this university.
2. Staff Council President's Comments
a. Dave Martin mentioned that he has been appointed to the Presidential Search Committee.
b. Dave also mentioned that Staff Councilors were pleased to be included in the UIHC CEO search.
c. Dave said that the Staff Council office is now officially moved and the new space seems to be working out well.
3. Updates and Discussion Topics
a. Pat Arkema mentioned that Michael Wichman and Pat Kenner, past presidents of Staff Council, have agreed to serve on the new Faculty and Staff Budget Committee. Pat said that Janice Simmons-Welburn would also be serving on the committee. Pat asked Sue Buckley if the changes, regarding chair and co-chair, have been made to the committee proposal draft.
b. Pat Arkema also discussed the Coca-Cola funds budget. Staff Council again this year was given $50,000 to disperse. The Executive Committee, at their recent meeting, decided to grant $52,000 in requests. This will leave approximately $2,000 with which to work, throughout the coming year. President Coleman said that we are in the last year of a five-year contract with Coca-Cola and that the university is in the process of re-negotiating that contract.
c. Dave Martin discussed the final report that Nancy Noyer provided of this spring's Staff Celebration Day.
d. Dave Martin initiated discussion of the recent SEIU/UE efforts. He mentioned that he has been receiving questions about who all will be included.
Sue Buckley said that the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) would be having a hearing on July 29th. It would be determined at this hearing who can be included in the bargaining units. What SEIU is asking for, could possibly add 1400 more staff to that bargaining unit's numbers, including Research Assistants, Program Associates, and Project Assistants. Sue said that the university and the Board of Regents would be arguing that the bargaining units need to stay within the parameters that were defined in 1977. Sue also said that it is possible that some new job classifications since 1977 might be included. A meeting has been scheduled on campus today that will include Charles Wright from the Board of Regents Office, Kevin Ward from Human Resources, and Joe Flynn from Minneapolis, who is an attorney representing the Board of Regents with regard to collective bargaining.
President Coleman said that if Staff Council wants to do some sort of education program, there would be certain parameters that Staff Council, as an organization, must stay within. She also said that while Staff Council might want to facilitate a flow of information, a position of neutrality might be the most prudent. As individuals, however, we are free to express as we want.
Sue Buckley mentioned that the SEIU effort might be disturbing to some because members of the newly covered classifications would not have the opportunity to vote as they would in an organizing campaign.
4. Sue Buckley's Comments
a. Sue said that the annual salary letters from President Coleman will be out on the HR Self-Service Center by the end of the week. HR will be sending a mass email advising this. Departments will be able to print the letters, if necessary.
b. A proposed new policy from Human Resources regarding visitors in the workplace has been developed at the request of the Research Council. It will be presented to HR unit representatives,Vice Presidents, Deans, and DEOs. It most likely will be available to share with Staff Council at their September meeting.
5. The Executive Committee gave President Coleman a small going away gift and card.
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Future Executive
Committee Meetings: |
Future Meetings,
Interim President Boyd: |
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Thursday, August 15, 2002* |
Monday, August 21, 2002, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. |
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Thursday, September 12, 2002 |
Tuesday, September 24, 2002, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. |
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Thursday, October 10, 2002 |
Monday, October 28, 2002 |
|
Thursday, November 14, 2002 |
Monday, November 18, 2002 |
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Thursday, December 5, 2002 |
Monday, December 9, 2002 |
*All Executive Committee meetings are 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,