EMPLOYEE HEALTH CARE

• Victory - Health plan funding increased: funding for university system employees’ health plans was increased to parity with funding for agency employees’ health care. University system employees’ health care funding had been 13% less than for agency employees since 2003.
• Victory - Health Savings Accounts defeated. HB 1269 would have created an alternative high-deductible health savings account plan for state agency employees, which would jeopardize our current comprehensive health plan. While HB 1269 would not have directly affected the UT and A&M plans, it would have affected university employees in the ERS health plan, and would have created pressure for similar changes in the UT and A&M plans.

RETIREMENT

• Victory - Increase in state contribution. SB 1846 mandates that the state contribution be no less than the employee contribution, currently 6.4% of salary. The state contribution, currently 6.0%, will probably increase to 6.6%, with the employee contribution also rising from 6.4% to 6.6% The increases will allow a “13th check” to TRS retirees.

PAY RAISE

• Major Problem - University system employees left out again. This is the second session that has left higher education employees out of statewide pay raises after a history of including university workers dating back at least 20 years. Agency employees will receive statewide, across-the-board increases of 2% with a $600-per-year minimum in September 2007 and September 2008.
  The TSEU University employees caucus has made it a top priority to restore statewide, state-funded pay raises for university system employees.
  

UNIVERSITY FUNDING
Initial analysis of university funding under the new appropriations act shows increases in funding for general operations. It is possible that the long-term decline in state funding in relation to overall operating costs has stabilized for the next two years. In one important positive change, full funding to staff the Texas Tech Medical School in El Paso was approved. A number of special university projects was funded by the Legislature, some of which were vetoed by Governor Perry. See the link on the University Caucus page for a listing of the special budget items.

 

 

• Advocate for quality and affordable public higher education for all Texans. Adequate state funding is essential to our vision of universities as public assets that make a difference for all Texans. We oppose tuition and fee hikes that put college degrees out of the reach of low and moderate income families.
  
• Fight for truly public universities – paid for by and accountable to Texas taxpayers. We oppose efforts to privatize part or whole sections of our workplaces. Privatization schemes in Texas have left a scandalous trail of destroyed services and taxpayer rip-offs.
  
• Improve the standard of living for all university employees, by advocating for across-the-board flat amount pay raises. Graduate and part time employees should be included in all pay raises and enjoy pro-rated benefits, including health care.
  
• Lobby at the state and national level for affordable health care. One-half of all state university employees work at health science institutions – these research and direct care employees will have a voice when solutions to our national health care crisis are discussed.
  
• Speak out for a secure pension – we want to know that the hard earned money we’ve put into the Teacher Retirement System pension fund will be well managed with directly elected university employees representing our interests on the Board of Trustees. We will lobby for full state funding to protect our interests into the future and to allow for cost of living increases to retirees.
  
• Oppose all attempts to take away long-standing protections against arbitrary cuts in benefits.
  
• Ensure that our voices are heard as decisions that affect us are made at the state, university, and departmental level. We want true Jobs with Justice, where our input is listened to and we are respected for the work we do. Equal treatment and access to real due process are key aspects of our vision of democracy at work.