Resolution 09-01                                                                                                                                  

A Resolution Concerning the Implementation of Employee Furloughs as a Human Resources Tool to Offset Budget Reductions at UNC Chapel Hill

RESOLUTION OF THE EMPLOYEE FORUM

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL

March 4, 2009

WHEREAS the Mission of the Employee Forum is to address constructively the concerns of Employees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, including the representation of staff concerns to University officials, State Legislators, and the citizenry of North Carolina; and

Whereas the Employee Forum understands, recognizes and appreciates that employee furloughs may be more palatable in this current crises than lay-offs, we also understand the potential adverse impact furloughs would have on the University’s workforce with regard to job performance, employee morale and the ability to recruit and retain top employees; and

Whereas the Employee Forum has previously adopted and supported an ongoing, non-partisan "Living Wage Education Campaign" to educate and advocate for a living wage for all State employees,” and has consistently asked that the Administration take whatever actions necessary to ensure that its employees earn a Living Wage; and

Whereas salary stagnation, escalating health care costs and the increasing cost of living have left many staff earning at or below the Living Income Standard (LIS), thereby diminishing their ability to provide an adequate income to support the basic needs of their families to live and prosper, such as access to decent affordable housing and access to affordable health care coverage, they, therefore, are ill-equipped to incur any further decreases in their income at this time;

Therefore, be it resolved that the Employee Forum requests that should the administration be granted by the legislature the authority to furlough employees and/or implements any reduction in its employment hour’s policy that this newly instituted employment authority:

• Not be applied to employees who earn below the living income standard defined as twice the Federal poverty level
• Be implemented from the top university salaries down - irrespective of funding source
• Not be applied to employees who are already on reduced schedules
• Be applied only for these specific budget crises and not be renewed without legislative approval.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Employee Forum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill strongly recommends that the Chancellor and his Administration convey and support publicly the concepts of this resolution in its interactions with the University's Office of the President and the North Carolina State Legislature.

Signed on Behalf of the Delegates of the Employee Forum,

Chair, Tommy Griffin