>Dear UT Chattanooga and UT Knoxville Communities:
>
>Last week Governor Bredesen proposed before the legislature his budget for 
>next year.  It included a 1% raise and 1% bonus.
>
>Also last week the United Campus Workers- Communications Workers of 
>America worked with democrat state resentative Mike Turner from Nashville 
>and republican state senator Tim Burchett from Knoxville to issue a bill 
>that would give an across the board $1200 raise to every UT and higher 
>education employee.
>
>Here are the links to Senate Bill 790 and House Bill 126:
>
>http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/SB0790.pdf
>
>http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/HB0126.pdf
>
>This legislation concretely benefits every UT employee.  This across the 
>board $1200 raise is far better than a 1% raise.  How do we get it 
>passed?  We have to leverage the power to get the legislation of its 
>respective committees and to be put to a floor vote.
>
>Today (February 8) UT union members from Chattanooga and Knoxville will 
>travel to Nashville to lobby the state legislature.
>
>There is no guarantee that this legislation will pass this time.  It is up 
>to us as university employees to get active in whatever way we can to 
>begin to collectively work for a better university.  The union is the 
>mechanism for achieving fairness for all university employees.
>
>Many continue to say "UT is going to do what UT is going to do."  Yes, 
>that may be true, but the staff and faculty can also be agents of 
>change.  Another UT is possible!
>
>Email [log in to unmask] if you are interested in UCW-CWA and being part 
>of this movement.  Together, we can make a difference!
>
>Below is an article on the union's trip to Nashville, as publicized in the 
>Tennessean.
>
>
>Friday, 02/04/05
>State college workers union to seek raise
>
>
>A union representing state college and university employees said it plans 
>to lobby lawmakers next week for higher wages.
>
>The United Campus Workers-Communications Workers of America Local 3865 
>will push a plan for a ''$1,200 flat raise'' for all state higher 
>education workers, said Elizabeth Gentry, union president and English 
>lecturer at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
>
>While acknowledging a $1,200 raise would make more of a difference to some 
>employees than others, Gentry said it would go further to address recent 
>cost-of-living increases than Gov. Phil Bredesen's recent proposal for a 
>1% raise and 1% bonus in 2005-06.
>
>''It would be one thing if we weren't making up for lost time in other 
>years,'' Gentry said in a telephone interview yesterday.
>
>The 201-member, 18-month-old union represents workers at UT's Knoxville 
>and Chattanooga campuses, but its proposal also would help employees of 
>other state colleges and universities, Gentry said. Fifteen to 20 faculty, 
>staff and students plan to meet with legislators in Nashville on Tuesday.
>
>­ Michael Cass
>
>UNITED CAMPUS WORKERS 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