MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY
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STAFF CONGRESS MINUTES
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May 7, 2007
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MEMBERS:
| Jeff Adkins |
Chris Hampton |
Mary Jerde |
Rebecca McGinnis |
April Nutter |
Todd Thacker |
| Darlene Allen |
Shannon Harr* |
David Jessie |
Rick Messer |
Darlene Ramey |
Jonell Tobin |
| Lisa Caskey |
Rosemary Hinton |
Linda Kegley |
Amy Moore |
William Salazar |
Terry White |
| Shannon Colvin |
Mike Hopper |
Margaret LaFontaine |
Pam Moore* |
Dallas Sammons |
Elizabeth Williams |
| Rhonda Crisp |
Phillip James |
Rhonda Mackin* |
Lonnie Morris |
Doug Snedegar |
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*Denotes member was absent
| Guests: |
Phillip Gniot, Human Resources Director, Suzanne Hogge, Associate Director of Compensation and Benefits, Phyllis Dehart, Compensation and Classification Manager and Lora Pace, Staff Regent and First Year Program & Retention Director |
Chair White called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. A quorum was present.
Chair White welcomed Phillip Gniot, new Human Resources Director and other guests to our monthly meeting.
| Motion: |
To suspend business and discuss pay raises for the 2007/08 year. |
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Proposed: Rep. Jessie |
Seconded: Rep. Salazar |
| Called for Vote: |
Passed |
Mr. Gniot stated that Suzanne Hogge would explain to Staff Congress how salaries would be handled for the 2007/08 year.
Ms. Hogge stated that MSU had hired the Segal Group to do an audit of various positions on campus. They came back with several recommendations. When they looked at current non-exempt grades 1-7 and exempt grades 1-9 they found they were 23% below the National Market Value. Due to budget we can not raise these positions salaries 23% this year. Therefore they will be raised gradually over a three year period beginning this year. This year the entry level base salary for these positions will be raised 8%, next year it will be raised 8% and the third year the entry level base salary will be raised 7%. The scales in each grade will be adjusted to address compression. A formula has been created to adjust salaries by time in position. New salaries for July 1 will be based on the following:
1. Across the board percentage raise
2. Salary not up to entry level will then be moved up to entry level
3. Compression salary will be applied
4. Merit applied
An example of how this would be done for an exempt employee was handed out. Anyone falling above the new base salary would only get the compression salary. Anyone getting an education incentive bonus will have this added as a flat dollar amount at the end once the raise has been applied.
Rep. Jessie asked if Human Resources had an example that shows how this would be done for an hourly employee. Ms. Hogge replied no but that she would come up with one for Staff Congress.
Regent Pace asked how they are looking at years in position of someone who has had an upgrade? Ms. Hogge replied that if an employee's grade has changed then time their in position has changed.
Rep. Jerde asked if new hires will fall in the new level? Ms. Hogge replied that any new hires will be hired in the new entry level. The new entry levels take affect July 1, 2007.
Rep. Jerde asked if employees will be notified about these salary changes. Ms. Hogge replied that every year supervisors are notified regarding pay raises and they are to share this information with all employees in their departments.
Ms. Hogge stated that merit raises had already been submitted so the Segal money will have no impact on how merit is distributed.
Rep. Jerde asked how you can determine what the new entry levels will be July 1? Ms. Hogge replied that you take the current rate and take it by 8% and that is what the new entry level will by July 1.
Rep. Kegley asked that if an employee has been doing an position with supplemental pay and then you hire them into that title with an upgrade do you include that supplemental time as time in position? Ms. Hogge replied yes.
Rep. Jessie stated that the $500 educational pay is pay that not all employees- would get. Ms. Hogge state yes that it would only go to those who earned degrees, but that it would be listed under other salary along with other items.
Rep. Jessie stated that he would like to see this broken down for an example for an hourly employee. Ms. Hogge said that she could do this but to remember that it would just be an example.
Rep. Jerde asked how many positions on campus would this affect? Ms. Hogge replied that she did not know the exact number but not a whole lot. Maybe about 50-75 people are below the new entry level.
Rep. Jerde asked why had the pay scale not been kept up with? Ms. Hogge replied that we had but the last two years we had not been because we knew we were going to pay this company to do this audit plus we did not have the funding to do so.
Rep. Jerde asked if you have a 2% merit and you have two employees can you give one of them 1.5% merit and the other .5% merit? Ms. Hogge replied supervisors can give merit any way they wish to give merit between employees.
Rep. Jerde asked if Ms. Hogge knew what the Cost of Living was this past year? Ms. Hogge relied 2.2% the last she saw. Rep. Jerde replied that anyone getting less than 2.2% pay raise is going backwards. The Cost of Living needs to be considered when discussing pay raises for the year.
Rep. Jessie replied that the Board of Regents has not approved this yet. Ms. Hogge stated that the Board has never voted against us in her 18 years of employment.
Regent Pace stated that Faculty Senate has been discussing something regarding insurance she then asked Ms. Hogge if Human Resources had done anything different with insurance. Ms. Hogge replied no.
Chair White asked if May 31 was still the deadline for suggestions on insurance? Ms. Hogge replied yes.
Rep. Nutter stated that the insurance survey was finished. 300 people participated and they will share report with Faculty Senate, Human Resource and Staff Congress once they have it finished. Hoping to have report ready by the next Staff Congress meeting.
Chair White thanked our guests for attending today's meeting.
| Motion: |
To return to regular meeting business. |
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Proposed: Rep. Colvin |
Seconded: Rep. James |
| Called for Vote: |
Passed |
Chair White asked for approval of the minutes from the April 2, 2007
| Motion: |
To approve the minutes from April 2, 2007 minutes with correction on last page. |
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Proposed: Rep. Colvin |
Seconded: Rep. A. Moore |
| Called for Vote: |
Passed |
| Chair's Report |
Chair White reported that there was good participation in the health survey. Reminded everyone that suggestions for health insurance must be in to Suzanne Hogge by Thursday, May 31. |
| Vice-Chair's Report |
Vice-Chair James reported that he is working on the last newsletter of the year. Will have this out by mid May |
| Secretary's Report |
Secretary Caskey reported that for the month of April we spent $62.02 refreshments. This leaves Staff Congress with a balance of $1,846.06 in supplies. |
| Parliamentarian Report |
No report. |
Committee Reports
| Credentials and Elections |
Rep. LaFontaine reported that the sample ballot has been placed on Staff Congress' website. Online ballot was created this morning but can not be used until May 16. Last day for paper ballot is this Friday, April 6. Online voting is set for Wednesday, May 16. This is the last year we will be able to do online voting using the current system. |
| University Standing Appointments |
No report. |
| Fiscal Affairs |
No report. |
| Personnel Policies and Benefits |
Rep. Nutter reported that the health survey is finished. Presently working on report. Report will be shared with Faculty Senate, Human Resources and Staff Congress once it has been completed. Anyone with comments regarding health insurance should submit them to her before May 31 so she can share them with Suzanne Hogge. |
| Ad-Hoc |
Rep. Snedegar reported they have been unable to meet. Hoping to meet this month. Chair White asked that they make every effort to meet so they can complete their task by the end of the year. |
Regent's Report:
Regent Pace reported that the Board of Regents will have a work session this Thursday and will have a regular meeting on June 14.
Old Business:
No old business was brought forth.
New Business:
Rep. Jerde suggested that if an employee would put $20 a month into a 401K plan maybe the University would match the $20. This would be in addition to the current retirement program we already have in place. Another incentive would be to pay employees $100 extra for each year they work, up to $2000 maximum, for each year they are here after three years. Also could we see about getting 24 days of vacation a year.
DISCUSSION:
Regent Pace stated that at the last President Council, President Andrews made a comment about Staff Congress only being interested in benefits. She added that there are some other opportunities for us to look at other than benefits. We need to decide what we want as a staff. We need to look at other things besides benefits. She added that Chair White may want to put a group together to look at other ways that Staff Congress can be more beneficial to staff on campus.
Chair White added that at the Staff Forum he had stressed we did need to provide more training and development for staff.
Rep. Colvin added that this is the perception of Staff Congress that many of our fellow staff members have of us.
Regent Pace stated that there are few professional development programs on campus directed toward all staff members. She went on to suggest that a Ad Hoc Committee be developed to addressed the issue of professional development for all staff members. Rep. Thacker stated that we have a vast number of job titles that HR does not have professional development for. Most professional dvelopment on campus is directed toward exempt staff.
Mr. Gniot stated that we should consider how we could make MSU a better place to work with regard to pay, benefits, etc. We should have programs geared twoard all staff positions. We need to setup a sub committee that can help come up with ideas to accomplish this task.
Rep. Tobin stated that 10-15 years there was a list of professional development programs given each semester sent to all employees but we do not seem to do this any longer. This may be something the Univesity may be interested in starting again.
Chair White stated that he agreed with somewhat but we've got to have some kind of balance. We are representing the staff members. This includes voicing our concerns about health insurance and pay raises.
Rep. Thacer stated that we need to be proactive not reactive in professional development.
Mr. Gniot stated that this must be done in a informal to formal method. You get feedback to see what kind of vehicle would work here.
Rep. Sammons stated that we need reps from each EEOC category to serve on this committee.
Rep. Tobin stated that we need to ask reps. who would like to serve on this committee so those who have the greates interest will serve.
Rep. Colvin stated that we must take nominations from the floor.
Rep. James added that the Chair has the liberty to appoint the members of this committee if he wishes to do so.
The following individuals were elected to the Professional Development Ad Hoc Committee:
Dallas Sammons, David Jessie, Rebecca McGinnis, Rosemary Hinton, Linda Kegley, Chris Hampton and Mary Jerde.
| Motion: |
To move back into "New Business" |
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Proposed: Rep. Jessie |
Seconded: Rep. Nutter |
| Called for Vote: |
Passed |
Chair White addressed a letter he had received from Suzanne Tallichet she had written to The Morehead News and The Daily Independent regarding ways to be more energy efficient. There is a button on the Faculty/Staff page for ideas for this if anyone is interested in submitting any ideas.
Rep. Jerde discussed why there were no service awards for non-exempt staff on campus. Rep. Thacker stated that most awards given to staff are slated towards exempt staff.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Rep. McGinnis announced that today at 4:00 p.m. there will be a press conference at the AAC to announce the new women's basketball coach.
Rep. McGinnis announced that this Saturday will be graduation at the AAC at 10:30 a.m.
Regent Pace announced that the Eagle Planner for 2007 deadline is May 18.
Rep. LaFontaine announced that the Employee Appreciation Picnic will be this Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m..
Rep. LaFontaine announced that the Recreation Center Survey is now on-line please complete.
Rep. Williams announced that the new minimum wage will increase to $5.85 beginning June 26, 2007.
Chair White announced that next Staff Forum will be held on Wednesday, May 9 at 2:30 p.m. in the Commonwealth Room.
Our next meeting is Monday, June 11 at 1:00 p.m.
| Motion: |
To adjourn |
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Proposed: Rep. James |
Seconded: Rep. A. Moore |
| Called for Vote: |
Passed |
Minutes submitted by: Lisa Caskey, Secretary
