KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The results are in from a survey distributed at the University of Tennessee (UT) here by the United Campus Workers throughout the fall semester of 2001. The survey set out find out the most important issues facing the hourly UT employee.
The union received close to 300 responses (out of an hourly work force of about 2,000) from departments across campus and plans to use this information to strengthen the campaign for a living wage at UT.
The results showed that 80 percent reported that they make less than a living wage. This follows the Dec. 10 UT Board of Trustees vote to split unequally the funds from the recent tuition increase, giving 3.5 percent to faculty and only 1.5 percent to staff. This vote was in spite of a resolution passed by the Faculty Senate calling for equal raises for faculty and staff.
The results of the survey also showed that 42 percent feel that they rarely or never get a fair response to a grievance or complaint and 21 percent report some form of discrimination.
The United Campus Workers expressed their feeling that that these results are a disgrace and that UT should immediately provide every employee with an hourly wage that will adequately provide for health insurance, food for the family and a decent living.
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