Classified staff members at UCCS will see a boost in their paychecks July 1, Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak told about 80 people who attend a classified staff forum Wednesday afternoon.
The increased pay is a result of two actions by the Colorado General Assembly – an end of a two-year requirement for higher employee contributions to the Public Employee Retirement Association and decreases in the employee share of health, life and dental insurance plans.
“It is not what I wanted,” Shockley-Zalabak said of the compensation package. “But it is simply not the case to say that there is no new money being provided to state employees in fiscal year 2012 -2013.”
Shockley-Zalabak and Brian Burnett, vice chancellor, Administration and Finance, explained the Colorado General Assembly’s decision to change a two-year-old law that required employees to contribute more to PERA. For the past two years, employees contributed 10.5 percent of their salaries toward retirement. Next year, employees will be return to an 8 percent contribution, effectively boosting take home pay by 2.5 percent. UCCS employees who enroll in university benefit plans will also see a decrease in their share of costs for those benefits. Savings to employees will range from $5 to $30 monthly, depending on the plan selected, according to Cindy Corwin, director, Office of Human Resources.
But while most employees will see increases in their take home pay, employees and administrators alike expressed frustration at the lack of increases in base salaries for classified staff, also known as the state salary survey. Classified staff members have not had a general salary increase in four years.
“We are committed to a strategy for additional compensation,” Shockley-Zalabak said. “We know you need a raise and understand the rising cost of utilities, gas, and insurance are all things that affect your lives. We are looking for ways to show that we appreciate your work for the university.”
Shockley-Zalabak and Burnett said CU advocated for salary increases for classified staff members and will continue to do so in future years. They encouraged staff members to take advantage of benefits such as tuition-free courses at UCCS or Pikes Peak Community College while promising to explore immediate campus-based solutions to boost salaries.
One idea Shockley-Zalabak shared was a campus overtime pool that could be used to reward classified staff members. Frequently, those who work overtime are rewarded with a day off but not extra pay. Shockley-Zalabak’s idea is to explore the creation of an overtime salary pool for employees who take on extra duties at peak times on campus such as the first week of classes.
Many details must be explored before the overtime concept becomes a reality, Shockley-Zalabak said. A follow-up forum is planned this summer.
While disappointed that financial remuneration was not greater this year, Shockley-Zalabak offered words of encouragement about the university as a place to work.
“We are financially stable. We are in demand. I am hopeful that you will see the benefits of that in the near future,” she said.
Related: A letter from Gov. John Hickenlooper to state employees
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