In reference to the article “University base pay below average” from the Sept. 18 edition of the Minnesota Daily, I found it very interesting that, according to the Office of Human Resources, employees are compensated with a “strong” benefits package.
Though this was the case many, many years ago, this doesn’’t really hold true here and now. Our out-of-check or out-of-pocket expenses, including health insurance premiums, keep increasing, while our pay doesn’t reflect any of that. Yes, I am so very glad to have a job which I enjoy, and also glad to have a job that offers health insurance. But proposed changes to health insurance co-pays and deductibles are going to be an imposition on so many people here at the University of Minnesota. Then what are we supposed to do?
Our salaries do not hold a candle to the increases that we have endured with regard to our health insurance. The findings from the cited report — that University salaries are increasing slower compared to other Twin Cities and national educational employers — are true and unnerving. Now they are going to be even slower if the University administration gets what they are planning for us. Somehow, some way, the University is not willing to discuss sliding scale premium. Why not? It really just does make sense.
I think that an unrealistic and unfair statement made by Kathy Brown, vice president of the Office of Human Resources, that some administrators have higher salaries because they have more experience at the University, makes it clear that experience should, but across the board does not, count for something. This is specifically true for a higher wage.
Who determines when and what experience will get you more money? The last thing we need is more administrators making more money.
I have worked at the University for 22 years. In all my years, in my many varied positions, my experience has never really counted for anything, especially not an increase in pay. Let’s be fair. Let’s consider the sliding scale health premiums and not include increased co-pays and deductibles.
