Employees Head to the State Capitol with Salary Concerns

Salary concerns are among the issues to be addressed when a Utah State University group heads to the Utah State Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 2.

 

Utah State University employees will join staff members from each of Utah’s higher education institutions in a show of force, ensuring legislators are informed of employee needs during this year’s session.

 

Employees will gather in the morning at the Capitol for ‘floor action,’ during which time the group will divide into legislative districts and request their legislator leave the session to come and visit with them. A presentation, developed and delivered by representatives from the Utah Higher Education Staff Association, or UHESA, will be given during the lunch hour. The presentation will outline the issues and concerns pertaining to funding allocations for salaries and salary increases. Click here for a detailed agenda. 

 

Utah State University's PEA president, Marsha Howell, has been invited to offer the opening prayer for the day’s legislative session.

 

“This is a great honor for PEA and recognition that higher education staff will be a presence on Capitol Hill on the 2nd,” said Liz Allred, chair of the Legislative Committee for the Professional Employees Association.

 

PEA and CEA members will receive more detailed information about this day and how to become involved.

 

“It is important that we show up and demonstrate our support for salary increases," Allred said. "If we don’t show up, then our legislators could assume we just don’t care about this issue and that we are happy with the status quo. When you don’t show up, then legislators don’t feel any particular need to respond, particularly when there are so many other pressing issues. We should always remember that higher education is in direct competition with other priorities that are important to the state.” 

 

This important event has been scheduled to bring attention to the concerns expressed by employees at Utah’s colleges and universities. Staff at these institutions have gone several years without a significant cost of living increase due to a lack of funding allocated by the state’s legislators. While salaries have remained stagnate, cost for goods and services have steadily increased. Employees are also faced with paying monthly health care premiums in addition to annual deductibles and these expenses are expected to increase.

 

State legislators did fund a 1 percent salary increase for state employees in 2004; however, this amount did little to assist the employees of Utah State University who earn, on average, 10-25 percent less a year than their counterparts throughout the state and nation.

 

"Many Professional employees ask, 'What can PEA do for me?' By being actively involved in this UHESA Day at the Capitol, you will take action to make a difference in our salary and benefits compensation allocated by the state legislators. Take a day's vacation to make your voice heard," said Marsha Howell, president of the Professional Employees Association at Utah State University.