“I was very pleased with the base wage increase. I think is is a big step toward a living wage.”
— Tara Pope

Details on wages to be discussed
By Brandon Ortiz
Staff Reporter

Staff members are pleased with the salary and benefits increases passed last week by the Board of Trustees, but a decision is still pending on exactly how long-term non-exempt staff will be compensated.

“I am delighted, absolutely thrilled,” said Bob Seal, chairman of Staff Assembly. “We knew (Chancellor Michael Ferrari) would do everything he could, but you never know until you see it.”

The Board of Trustees approved an increase Friday in the base wage for non-exempt staff to $8 an hour from $7.25 an hour and in the university’s contribution to retirement benefits increased to 10.5 percent from 9.5 percent. Also approved at the meeting were pay raises for non-exempt staff who have worked at TCU for several years, increased funding for health insurance premiums and the university’s tuition remission benefit. The details of the plans have not been finalized.

Non-exempt employees are paid an hourly wage as opposed to a salary exempt staff receive.

Ferrari said staff compensation was a top priority.

“Compensation for non-exempt staff has been a key priority for two major reasons: (One) the wages and benefits for staff in the non-exempt category were substantially below the prevailing market conditions and there were inequities among staff that needed attention,” Ferrari said. “And (two) the staff make enormous contributions to the health and vitality of the university and the compensation program should be aligned with the value and contributions they make to students, faculty, professional staff and visitors.”

The base wage increase was the second approved in three years. It has increased from $5.73 an hour to $8 in that time frame, a 39.6 percent increase.

“I was very pleased with the base wage increase,” said Tara Pope, a grounds keeper and member of Staff Assembly. “I think it is a big step toward a living wage. I think it is commendable of Chancellor Ferrari and the Board they made such a step in a tight budget year.”

Exactly how pay raises for long term employees will be allocated -— and how much money will be distributed — has not been determined, said Carol Campbell, vice chancellor for business and finance. She said Human Resources will develop a compensation plan by the end of February.

“I think people curious about what (exactly) is going to happen to long term employees,” Pope said.

Campbell said letters will go out near the end of the semester to staff who received pay increases. Compensation changes go into effect June 1, she said.

Brandon Ortiz
b.p.ortiz@student.tcu.edu

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