BRYAN FAUST/Herald photo
Chancellor John Wiley and other University of Wisconsin officials met with students and workers from various campus organizations Thursday morning to continue discussion on a proposal regarding university limited-term employees.
The LTE Collaboration Group has been meeting throughout the semester in an attempt to address a number of issues concerning university LTEs, including possibly converting 400 LTEs to full-time workers. The conversion would increase employees' work and union benefits.
While Thursday's meeting did not result in any final decisions, officials said they were satisfied with their work up to this point.
"I'm happy to put in place practices that will be consistent with sound personnel administration, Wiley said.
Though Wiley has not yet read the proposal the group discussed Thursday, he said he hoped the proposal would not be too controversial and would be passed relatively easily.
There are 14 "major issues that the group has discussed during its meetings, including the conversion of LTEs to full-time employees, grievance and advancement opportunities for LTEs, and the roles and responsibilities of the yet-to-be-created LTE Advisory Committee.
The Advisory Committee will consist of students, faculty and union members, and will oversee the implementation of the proposal the group hopes to create.
Wiley also raised concerns about some university organizations possibly mistreating LTEs.
"I've always been embarrassed by the extent to which some units on campus were, as far as I can tell, abusing the use of LTEs, Wiley said.
And some UW students — most notably the representatives from Student Labor Action Coalition — have had a major role in shaping the LTE policy discussions.
"[The major issues are] pretty substantial, said Ashok Kumar, one of the SLAC representatives who sits on the group. "It is saying across-the-board living wage. It's saying conversion of a lot of LTEs. And this is because of student pressure and we're going to keep the pressure on.
Despite the optimism, Wiley mentioned one potential drawback.
"It is going to cost a little bit more at a time when the budgets are tight, but it is worth it, Wiley said.
Kumar, however, said that he saw no drawbacks, adding that the group is just at its starting point and needs to expand from here.
And with Thursday's meeting, group members believed they have forged ahead in their efforts to draft a new LTE proposal that would provide LTEs with more rights.
"I'm really surprised with the progress and I'm pleased with the recommendations we've come up with for the living wage and for the conversion, said Molly Glasgow, another SLAC representative who sits on the group. "We are going to set a precedent that the university is going to pay all employees a living wage.