IU support staff continues to push for livable wages

As Hoosiers’ budgets remain tight, IU’s support staff union, Communications Workers of America Local 4730, continues to plead for raises and representation.

The union is fighting for livable wages and a “seat at the table” on the health care blue ribbon committee, a group formed by IU President Michael McRobbie to find more cost-effective methods for health care.

To bring attention to its issues, a rally at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Monroe County Courthouse, 100 W. Fifth St., will bring workers from all over Indiana.

CWA 4730 President Peter Kaczmarczyk said the rally is being publicized in Bloomington and southern Indiana.

“We’re pushing for several hundred people, and I think that is doable,” Kaczmarczyk said.

The event, which is sponsored by the CWA 4730, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the White River Central Labor Council and Jobs with Justice, will cover issues such as IU workers’ wages.

“That’s our really big final push,” Kaczmarczyk said. “While it may be delayed somewhat, early May is when the trustees will make a decision on wages, so we’re getting down to the wire on this.”

It is not definite exactly when the trustees will decide on salaries and tuition. IU bases its budget on the allocation given by the state, and then submits it to the IU trustees to approve.

The board is meeting May 7 and 8, but IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre said it is unlikely the budget will be created by then. The state budget is supposed to be finalized by April 30, but state law requires a public hearing regarding tuition and fees before the trustees may vote.

Kaczmarczyk and the members of CWA 4730 have been working for better raises for months. In February, they had a press conference explaining their plea, and Kaczmarczyk wrote a letter to the IU board of trustees dated April 2. He said he thinks the union has made progress since February and has been getting good feedback.
Trustee Pat Shoulders said he is sympathetic for the IU support staff.

“My hope is that IU, in these tough economic times, will make the effort to treat all employees fairly with our economic constraints,” he said.

While Shoulders said he is sympathetic, he also said that “the ability to pay what they deserve is really hampered” by the economy.

In addition to the hope for wage increases, the rally will also address health care reform, another concern of CWA 4730.

McRobbie announced the blue ribbon committee for health care in February. The measure was one example of actions McRobbie took to cut administrative costs and prevent educational expenses from being affected.

The committee consists of faculty and administrators with health and finance expertise from multiple IU campuses. But IU support staff member Bryce Smedley said the committee is missing worker representation. The union has asked the committee and McRobbie to be included.

“The main reason why we’re asking for a seat at the table is I think there’s a lot of experience that comes to the table when you have somebody who makes under $30,000 a year,” Smedley said. “Having that experience at the table, I think gives a lot more credibility to any recommendations or ideas.”

CWA 4730 has also reached out to other groups who want say in the committee, such as the IU Graduate and Professional Student Organization.

GPSO President Nick Clark said he understands the union’s request to be on the committee, and the GPSO has asked its members to e-mail the committee asking for representation.

Clark also spoke with the Office of the President and said he finds its side “fairly convincing.” He said the purpose of the committee is not to shut out groups from the IU community.

“I don’t think we can say at this time that it’s not going to lead to a cut in benefits for support staff and for grad students,” Clark said. “I’m sure that’s a possibility. But the idea is they’re going to, from an objective, expert-based angle, provide the president with recommendations about how the University can contain health care costs.”

The union will continue to plead for what it wants because, Kaczmarczyk said, workers “have been ignored on the wage front for too long.”

“We will continue to promote the issues we think are important to staff,” Kaczmarczyk said. “We think most of these issues dovetail with what we think the University is all about. We’ll continue to raise our voice in a civilized manner and hope that they’re paying attention.”