Yet again, the university administration is using Orwellian language to
call a pay cut a pay increase!   This is, what, the tenth?, twelfth?,
consecutive downgrade of this kind.

Inflation over the past year has been in excess of 3.5 percent.  Any salary
adjustment less that that constitutes a decrease in buying power and hence
a PAY CUT.

Many of the lowest paid UT employees will achieve 3.5% or better thanks to
the work of the UCW/CWA, the only party around to advocate for an
across-the-board raise, and NO thanks to any recent president, chancellor,
trustee, or THEC member.

Funds for merit increases should definitely be available, but these should
always be applied on TOP of cost-of-living adjustments.

Don't whine! Organize!

Fritz.

At 04:04 PM 6/6/2005 -0400, Chuck Cantrell wrote:
>June 6, 2005
>
>TO: UT Faculty and Staff
>FROM: John D. Petersen, UT President
>SUBJECT: Legislative Pay Increase Formula Will Allow $750 Minimum or Up
>to 3 Percent for Full-Time Staff Plus Increase in 401K Match. Faculty
>Funds Include Merit Increases.
>
>The appropriations bill passed by the state legislature allows the
>University of Tennessee the opportunity to continue to improve the
>salary level of employees.