SB 74
(see other document links below)

On behalf of the SB 74 Committee, I would like to take this opportunity to present to the Senate our proposal and recommendation regarding the possibility of becoming University Support Staff. After reviewing various documents over the course of the past year, it became clear the main difference between our current status as classified employees and becoming University Support Staff is salary compensation. We spent many meetings going over this issue and, finally, have come up with a document we feel will be fair to all employees while providing an opportunity for employees to actually receive compensation for their outstanding job performance; A copy of the compensation document is included in your packet of documents (see attachment A). We based our compensation instrument on that of KU’s with a 2/3 and 1/3 merit evaluation process. We have also retained the longevity pay but are requesting that it be added to the employee’s base, not as a bonus. This will allow an employee to earn more money with a higher base each year. We also have a comparison sheet showing compensation on the current civil service plan and the alternative plan of how merit and longevity will increase a person’s salary (Attachment B).

In addition to the compensation, we have also prepared a document on how merit/salary will be administered based on job performance. Our performance evaluation document (Attachment C) is included in the packet.

The committee also reviewed and revised the Employee Grievance Procedure (Attachment D) and the Disciplinary Action Process (Attachment E). These are also included in your packet.

I know there are many documents here for your review and we would be happy to discuss and answer any questions you may have about them. This is a working document and not the final proposal.

Our recommendation to the Senate is to pursue this initiative. Classified employees have not received adequate salary compensation from the Legislature for the past 20 years (see document) and there is no reason to believe that is going to change. Classified employees’ salaries are usually discussed in the omnibus bill at the end of the legislative session after all of the money has been disbursed. As university support staff, we will at least have the opportunity to be compensated for our work.

We have come up with a timeline to proceed with the proposal if you decide to do so (Attachment F). This timeline will allow classified employees time to vote and, if approved all the way through, become effective FY 2009.