Staff Senate
The University of Montana
Tammy Yedinak, President
(406) 243-6195
Minutes: Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Meeting was brought to order by Tammy Yedinak.
Present:
Jamie Lockman, Kathy White, Janis Davis, Ann Weiler, Karla Tecca, Jone Hayes, Cherri Hollist, Kris Csorosz, Renee Valley, Teri Daniels, Mary Kate Tran, David Crowley, Bill Turner, Marvin Hess, Ed Scott, Amy Capolupo, Lisa Arends, Darlene Samson, Tammy Yedinak, Betsy Dalessio, Gregg Potter
Excused: Michelle Crowe, Amy Casamassa, Susan Hess, Katie Dalessio, Tim McCue
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
David Crowley moved to approve the minutes as amended. Lisa Arends seconded the motion.
Financial Report
MAF100 Staff Senate Scholarship has a balance of $3839.81
MAFT04 Staff Senate current balance is $6.62
MAF009 Staff Senate Visibility has a balance of $2116.83
Marvin Hess moved to approve the financial report, Janis Davis seconded.
Committee Reports:
CVC
Darlene Samson spoke on behalf of the CVC. The committee is beginning to search for raffle prizes for the Homecoming Raffle. Senators can sign up to look for prizes from different departments/businesses. Also senators are needed to sell raffle tickets. Welcomefeast is September 4, and an email will go out with a sign up to work the table at the BBQ.
Announcements:
New Employee Orientation sign up is going around. We will pass around sign ups each month. A member or two of Staff Senate is needed to sit at the informational table and promote/inform new employees about Staff Senate.
Photos: Todd Goodrich, the University photographer, will be here in August to take pictures for the website—possibly a group photo as well.
Next month’s meeting will be held in Gallagher Business Building.
Breakout session for work groups.
Guest Speaker: Kathy Crego – MPEA
Jim Sorenson, Chris Vance (President, VP)
Montana University System Staff Association, MUSSA. Faculty Union had time with Board of Regents, Quint Nyman presented a letter on behalf of staff and a petition. Tried to get the message out that the fiscal crisis cannot be carried on the backs of staff.
MUSSA (Kevin Thane) stated that he represented all staff of the Universities and that he did not agree with the Union.
Crego was concerned that Thane spoke on behalf of MPEA, without authorization. There were a lot of concerns, and talk of an unfair labor practice.
Staff Senate has a critical role to bring up issues to the Board of Regents. MPEA wants to make sure MUSSA is representing staff fairly.
Questions:
Bill Turner questioned why an active Staff Senate member isn’t representing Staff Senate on MUSSA? Why are we paying per diem for Shelly Hiniker to attend MUSSA meetings when she is not on Staff Senate?
Faculty has always had a one-on-one dialogue with Board of Regents, staff would like to do the same thing.
What things are off limits for Staff Senate to approach?
-Pay proposals, working conditions, are off limits.
MPEA is not permitted to consider negotiations with administrators and faculty, at the bargaining table.
Is there anything that Staff Senate can do to help MPEA in this process?
-Update will go out on the MPEA list serve. Staff Senate should keep MPEA informed of our interests.
Bargaining:
-Layoffs and protecting employees.
-Money didn’t come up until Board of Regents made decisions on tuition
-Proposal is on the table by administration now (we are not considered state employees by the governor) for a two-year wage freeze, and a one time $450 lump sum bonus for employees who make less than $45,000.
-MPEA countered with the following bargaining points:
- Increase in longevity pay from 1.5% to 3%
- Raise entry-level wage to $10.32
- To increase the base pay of employees by $450. The current proposal would exclude the lump sum bonus from an employee’s base wage.
-Starting right now, MPEA and UFA are working together to join forces and ask for increases.
A suggestion was made to have Bill Muse come to discuss budgets in detail.
