UCW-CWA Update: August 2, 2010

In the next few weeks we should know whether the $50 million target has been reached. 

Below is some additional information we have received:

$701 million will need to be collected in August general fund revenues to trigger the bonus. 

The last two years have seen collections in July to be the following:

2008- 746.3 million

2009- 720.2 million

It is believed that revenues will be closer to July 2007 levels, which was $679 million. 

Officials within Finance and Administration believe that the funding needed to trigger the bonus will be close.

We will keep you up to date with the latest information we receive on this issue.

Fighting Layoffs at the UT Health Science Center

Last fall UCW discovered through open records requests plans by the UT Health Science Center (UTHSC) to layoff close to 200 staff, despite availability of stimulus funds for job saving purposes.

Over the past 6 months United Campus Workers has grown to close to 150 members in the Memphis area, between the UTHSC, the University of Memphis, and Southwest Community College.

Through the leadership and work of rank and file members at these institutions, UCW has fought to save these jobs.  Over a dozen meetings have been organized in Nashville and in Memphis with members of the Shelby county legislative delegation, including meetings with Congressman Cohen's office.  In these meetings we have urged our legislative leaders to do all they could to intervene and save these jobs, which are integral to Memphis and Tennessee's economy.  Additionally, union members at UT Martin recently met with state senator and congressional candidate Roy Herron, who pledged his support in this struggle.

A Freedom of Information Request received last week revealed the layoff list has been lowered to 33. 

Michelle Burrell, a UCW-CWA leader and 6 year employee of the UT Health Science Center, points out the contradiction of laying off hard-working staff at the same time the UTHSC just hired a new chancellor at $525,000 annually, along with a $25,000 housing allowance.  "We need justifications for these proposed layoffs...how can they spend that kind of money while laying off 18 black females, 5 white males, and 10 white females?"

As of this writing no layoff notices have been given.  UCW-CWA will remain diligent in our support of saving all jobs and urging the UTHSC to transfer affected employees to job openings at the university.  Please contact us at [email protected] or 1-877-292-3865 with any questions or concerns.

Pictured above right: UTHSC members met last Thursday to plan further efforts to save jobs.

Tennessee Board of Regents set to name new Chancellor

On Friday the current deputy governor John Morgan was recommended by a search committee to be the next head of the Tennessee Board of Regents.  For more information, check out this story from the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

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