>From: UCW-CWA <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: BREAKING NEWS- UT RAISE UPDATE!
>
>Dear UT Community-
>
>This past Saturday the Tennessee general assembly wrapped up its 2005
>session and passed the budget for the fiscal year beginning July
>1.  According to information given to us by allies we have in the
>Tennessee General Assembly:
>
>UT staff will be receiving a $750 raise or 3%, whichever is greater.
>
>UT Faculty will be receiving a minimum 1.5% raise, with 1.5% to be used
>for equity and/ or merit raises.
>
>According to State Representative Harry Tindell, who is chair of the House
>Budget subcommittee,
>
>"This is an experiment in giving them flexibility. We have requested
>specific oversight of the plan's implementation in order to monitor what
>they have done. This was a compromise position based in part on input from
>your organization and UT. The specific language is contained in the
>appropriations act."
>
>UCW-CWA organized several trips to Nashville over the previous months,
>advocating for the $1200 flat raise for all UT staff and faculty. We also
>were adamant that we didn't trust UT to have full control of the budget,
>which is a position they fought for in the legislature this year.
>
>The Governor's budget in January called for only a 1% raise.  The work
>that UT employees did to promote the flat raise helped push this 1% to 3%,
>and helped prevent UT for having full control to give raises to who they want.
>
>The UCW-CWA wanted to get this news out to everyone as soon as we received
>it.  Analysis from us will come in the days to come.
>
>UNITED CAMPUS WORKERS- COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA is a democratic,
>member-run union at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and Knoxville,
>affiliated with the Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO.  We're
>building a strong voice for all campus workers and public service
>employees in Tennessee. Join us!
>
>United Campus Workers- Communications Workers of America Local 3865
>1721 West Cumberland
>Knoxville, TN  37916
>Toll Free:  1-877-CWA 3865
>Organizer Cameron Brooks:  (865) 387-4408
>President Elizabeth Gentry:  (865) 546-9584
>Email:  [log in to unmask]
>http://ucw-cwa.org

ONE THING MORE:
The latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate inflation
running at 3.5% over the past year (3.3% for the year 1994, ending
December), so a three percent salary adjustment is in fact yet another PAY
CUT.  Still, it beats one percent, and thanks to UCW-CWA, the principle of
a flat $750 minimum increase helps the worst paid among us.

Fritz.