UT should consider alternative avenues for cutting its budget instead of laying off a proposed 113 employees, according to United Campus Workers.
“We believe there are other solutions to the current fiscal challenges, such as postponing expensive new projects, early retirement incentives, possible freezes on hiring for new jobs, and reducing top-heavy management and administrative salaries and perks,” UCW representatives said in a letter to UT’s administration on April 20.
UCW sent the letter to Vice President of Budget and Finance Sylvia Davis, President John W. Shumaker and Provost Loren Crabtree, hoping for a change in the university’s plans to layoff jobs.
“Layoffs mean throwing away the experience and commitment of staff,” the letter said. “Staffing cuts also mean that remaining employees experience more stress and workplace injuries and are less able to serve the student population. Layoffs are therefore never an adequate solution to budgetary problems as they cause lasting damage to the university and the state – not to mention the families of workers.”
Shumaker said on Thursday that several students and faculty had mentioned cutting back university projects, but ceasing those projects would not ease the university’s budget woes. The president sought suggestions from the university community through his online budget suggestions, and he said the suggestions were mixed in the areas in which the university could better explain its budget.
“One suggestion was to stop all construction,” Shumaker said. All the construction projects going on right now are funded by either students (or) athletics … None of the construction projects going on, with the exception of the research building on the (Agricultural Campus), are funded by the state.”
Shumaker said other suggestions included cutting the athletics department and putting the money in the academic budget, which warranted explanation since the university’s budget doesn’t financially support athletics.
“(One suggestion was) fire the president and save the money,” Shumaker said. “We just can’t do things like that. This just shows where we have to do a better job of explaining ourselves and making the budget more transparent.”
If the university does fall upon cutting jobs to cover the state’s 9 percent reduction, the UCW hopes the cutting process will be based on a fair criteria.
“If layoffs are the choice of this administration, then they should be carried out in the most fair and responsible manner possible to minimize the disastrous effects on staff and the campus community,” the letter said. “Layoffs should be decided according to seniority, not favoritism. Every laid off worker should be instructed in how to apply for unemployment, extended health insurance, etc., so that workers and their families can benefit from the state’s programs for these situations.”
UCW also suggested UT help the displaced faculty and staff find new positions at the university rather than hiring new employees for vacant positions.
