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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 16, 1987)
State employee union starts to bargain for pay equity >r. By Shawn Wirtz Of the Kmerald The Oregon Public Employees Union will an nounce its bargaining proposals today, and union officials are confident the most controver sial ticket item, pay equity, will have a good reception with the governor, said Bentley Gilbert. OPEIJ spokesman. Gov. Neil Goldschmidt’s budget proposal to set aside $10 million to fund pay equity raises has created the optimism. Gilbert said. "I really don’t want to say it's enough,” Gilbert said, “but it is a start to change those jobs so they are more in tune with the skills.” "Personally, I think it’s a good step in the right direc tion.'' said Lisa Sieracki, University library employee and president of the OPEU Local 085. "We’re very pleased that Goldschmidt supports pay equi ty and put it in his budget," she said. Even so. "it needs to be more. It's not going to solve it." she added. The salary increase would benefit both men and women whose pay is less than that of other employees whose jobs re quire comparable skill and responsibility, but the proposal would primarily affect women. Opponents have contended that the implementation of pay equity would require some workers to take a wage cut. but Sieracki disagreed. "The union position is that nobody's salary is going to be cut or frozen." Sieracki said. While Gilbert expects Goldschmidt to drive a hard bargain. "One of the satisfac tions we have with Gov. Goldschmidt is that we have a strong belief that he has a better understanding of collective bargaining." Gilbert said. Student building fee proposed by higher education board By Chris Norred Of the Emerald SALEM — A bill proposing to increase the building fee that students must pay each term was introduced in the Oregon House of Representatives Thursday. House Bill 2095, sponsored by the State Board of Higher Education, would raise the building fee from $12.50 to $15 per term for each student at the eight colleges and univer sities in the State System of Higher Education next year. The student building fee is collected each term as part of students’ general fees and is us ed to cover the cost of debts owed on bonds that were used to finance campus building construction. I he State Board is proposing to increase the fee because of a predicted increase in debt that may arise from building projects included in the State Board’s six-year capital construc tion plan. Based upon the most recent enrollment projections and the capital construction pro gram approved for the 1987-1989 biennium, it is predicted that by the end of fiscal year 1992-93, building fee reserves will fall below the requirements established by Board Internal Management Directives," according to a State System staff report. "An increase of $2.50 per term effective in 1987-88 would provide adequate funds to keep the reserves at the required level. If this rather modest increase is not made in 19H7-HH, a much larger one will be required at a later date.” the report said. I he student building fee has not been in creased since 1975. when it was raised from $10 per term to the present $12.50. rhe State Board authorized the bill last )une, at which time Vice Chancellor Bill l.em man explained that if the Board's ambitious capital construction plan, which contains a number of projects to be financed with the stu dent building fee. is approved by the Legislature in both of the succeeding two ses sions. a large student building fee increase would be required. Also in the Capital on Thursday. Senate President John kitzhaber and House Speaker Vera Katz announced their appointments of members to Joint Ways and Means subcommittees. I he education subcommittee will be led by Chairman Tom Mason. D-Portland. an at torney and part-time instructor at Portland State University. Mason said there is a possibility the education subcommittee will hold hearings at each of the State System’s ma jor universities. Also on the education subcommittee are Kep. Darlene Dooley. D-VVest Linn; Kep. Tony Van Vliet. R-Corvallis; Sen. Crattan kerans. D Kugene; Sen. Lenn Hannon. R-Ashland; and Sen. Frank Roberts, D-Portland. Goldschmidt Continued from Page 1 Goldschmidt’s proposed level of funding for basic school sup port may cause the fight that will end the honeymoon period between Goldschmidt and legislators, but "1 would expect we’ll continue to have excellent communications.” said Senate President John Kitzhaber, who also attended the gathering. Nonetheless. Goldschmidt is hopeful that the Legislature can come up with “something that is passable and at the earliest possible time,” he said. Goldschmidt will support whatever the Legislature comes up with, he said. “It really is my job to pass it,” he said. “That’s our mission.” The Republican caucus is willing to work closely with Goldschmidt on his legislative priorities, said Sen. Minority Leader Tony Meeker. ”We view things in a different light now that we're a true minority,” Meeker said. Meeker praised Goldschmidt for getting his budget out in “record time” and said. “By and large, the communications have been better than usual.” In response to questions, Mouse Speaker Vera Katz said, “The Mouse Democrats never take a caucus position on issues. I TINO'S SPAGHETTI HOUSE l1 PIZZA V»£:l Ijwtl 342-8111 Introducing . . . FREE A Delivery Service! * •Tree delivery with a minimum order Also offering • Full dinner menu • White or whole wheat crust • Limited delivery area 15th and Willamette Hours: Open 11 am 7 days a week / Former Gov. Vic Atiyeh vetoed a pay equity bill in the last session. "There was a lot of games, and I think them will be less of that." Gilbert said. The current OPEU contract expires June 30. OPEll Ex ecutive Director Alice Dale will be the union’s chief negotiator. OPEU represents 15,834 state employees in 45 state agencies. Dale and OPEU President Kei Quitevis-Smith also will pre sent proposals concerning pay. health and dental insurance, working conditions and union rights. MOTOR SCOOTERS!! 20th S A A Main Springfield 1 \1 93S4 4 miles trom campus Lisa Sieracki HALLEY'S COMET PEPSI •m. 12 ox.35* mod. 16 ox.*.4Sc <0 24 ox.554 Come! 32 ox.65< Across from (he UO Bookstore SKI THE NIGHT AWAY! TWILIGHT SKIING EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT WILLAMETTE PASS NOW Through March 28th Willamette Pass 1899 Willamette Eugene, OR 97401 What's last, fun. totally cool and comes out at night? TWIUQHT SKIING AT WILLAMETTE PASS! From now until March 28th, you can ski the Pass Friday and Saturday nights under (he lights? So how about it!?! 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