EMPLOYEE COUNCIL MINUTES
June 21, 2001

TOPICS DISCUSSED
- COUNCIL MINUTES
- NASC GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
- EMPLOYEE COUNCIL ELECTION
- AWARD PROGRAMS
- RECOMMENDATION FOR DIVERSITY COUNCIL
- EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR PROCEDURES
- EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
- FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
- CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES
- SHARED LEAVE
- RETIREMENT PLAN CONTRIBUTION RATES
- FEDERAL INCOME TAX REFUND
- TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
- ADJOURNMENT/NEXT MEETING

COUNCIL MINUTES
The minutes of the May 17 meeting were read and approved as sent.

NASC GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
No new report.

EMPLOYEE COUNCIL ELECTION
Colleen Rose presented a corrected list of the reorganized Employee Council areas.  A discussion was held about breaking the facilities management group into two smaller groups.  It was decided by the Council to leave the facilities group all together and give them an additional delegate.  The Council voted to approve the groups as presented with minor changes of employees who were listed in the wrong area.  Human Resources sent out ballots for electing new delegates and alternates to replace current members whose terms end this year.

AWARD PROGRAMS
A discussion was held about how to make the campus aware of staff that have received awards or special notice from agencies or groups outside of Employee Council.  Sometimes an employee may receive an award but is not recognized for it on campus.  The Council discussed ways to advertise these instances of recognition.  The Campus Calendar on the Web or the campus bulletin was recommended as good avenues for this news.  The Council decided to put the responsibility for this in the job description for the Employee Council publicity coordinator for next year.  This led to the discussion that job descriptions for Employee Council executive members be included in the update of the by-laws.

RECOMMENDATION FOR DIVERSITY COUNCIL
Kari Taylor, Chair of Employee Council, read an e-mail from Judy Miller in the President's office requesting recommendations for members on the new CWU Diversity Council.  The Council will recommend Pedro Garcia from Facilities Management to serve on this council.

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR PROCEDURES
The Council discussed the possibility that the procedures for choosing the Employee of the Year should be changed for the future.  Many people around campus have expressed the concern that the current process is more of a "popularity contest."  Because it is meant to be a special honor and includes a substantial monetary award, the Council felt the award process should be similar to the Distinguished Professor award process utilizing an anonymous committee and more stringent criteria.  A sub committee was selected to recommend new procedures for selecting the Employee of the Year.

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Patti Minshull from the Registrar's office was chosen as Employee of the Month for May.  The following comments come from the nomination form, “Patti gives 110% at all times.  She prides herself in giving correct information and solving problems.  Patti is someone I look forward to seeing at work.  She brightens her work area with flowers and brings the staff cool pens.  Students love Patti.  She relates and is conversational with each student; she makes each of them feel like an individual.”

FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
Human Resources sent out questionnaires to the participants in the Staff Service Award Program.  Feedback from these forms will be considered for the 2002 program.

The State has passed a budget, which approved a 3.7% salary increase for staff members as of July 1, 2001.  It also made provisions for a salary raise for July 1, 2002 to be determined by the 2002 legislature.  Certain staff positions, which have been shown to have significant recruitment and retention problems state-wide will receive a salary increase between 5% and 12.5% January 1, 2002.  These groups include staff working in information technology, police, and some accounting positions.  Faculty will get a 3.7 % increase to be divided as determined by the university.

Human Resources received a call asking how many votes each candidate for Employee of the Year had received.  The Council felt that no information regarding vote count should be divulged.  Kari Taylor read a thank you note sent by Judy Paul for the pin she received as Employee of the Month.

Kari Taylor handed out a copy of a newspaper article from the June 7, 2001, Yakima Herald entitled "Be Flexible with Workers."  The article was about Governor Gary Locke's visit to Yakima where he announced a directive ordering state agencies to increase opportunities for flexible work schedules and telecommuting.

CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES
COLA
Most regular civil service employees will receive a 3.7 % cost of living increase authorized by the legislature and adopted by the Washington Personnel Resources Board.  The increase is effective July 1, 2001, and will first appear in the paycheck on July 25th.  Employees will be notified of the increase and their new salary amount by individual letter.  The new salary schedule is available on-line.  Go to the HR homepage, click on LINKS, and then click on Civil Service Salary Schedule under EMPLOYEE CODES/WACS/RULES.

6767 PRIORITY LIST
The Washington Personnel Resources Board submitted the 6767 Priority List to the Legislature for consideration in the budget making process.  Some of the classes on the list were funded for salary range increases to be effective January 1, 2002.  The following classes at Central will be affected:  New Information Technology classes: Campus Police Lieutenant, Campus Police Sergeant, Campus Police Officer, Fiscal Specialist I, Budget Analyst II, Accounting Supervisor I, Fiscal Technician I, Accounting Supervisor II, Fiscal Technician II, Accountant, Fiscal Technician Lead, Accountant Principal, Fiscal Technician III, Accountant Senior, Budget Analyst Lead, Budget Analyst I.

SHROLL SETTLEMENT
The raises proposed in the settlement – to bring common Higher Education and General Government classes to comparable salary levels – were contingent on legislative funding of the settlement agreement.  Since no funding was included in the recently passed State budget, the proposed settlement is now void.  The issue, however, will not be going away, and we will keep you posted as we learn more.

SHARED LEAVE
CWU employees may donate leave to a fellow employee who is severely ill or injured or has a family member who is severely ill or injured.  "Severely" is defined as serious or extreme and/or life threatening.  Recipients must be off work and have used all their paid leave to be eligible.  Employees who wish to receive shared leave must notify Human Resources and submit a doctor's certificate.

The following individual is in need of shared leave:  Charles Schlund (Facilities Management).

Individuals interested in donating leave should request a Shared Leave donation form from Human Resources.  Copies may also be downloaded from the HR Forms section of the Human Resources home page: www.cwu.edu/~hr/hrforms2.htm#other.  Requests must be approved by your supervisor before forwarding the form to Human Resources. Donated leave is also subject to approval by your department head and Human Resources.

Annual leave may be donated in eight-hour blocks.  Employees who wish to donate annual leave must retain at least ten days (80 hours) of vacation leave and cannot donate excess leave (that over 30 days or 240 hours) that he/she would otherwise lose at the beginning of the leave anniversary month.  Sick leave may also be donated in eight-hour blocks.  The donating employee must retain a minimum of 480 hours sick leave balance after the transfer.  No more than six days of sick leave may be transferred during any twelve-month period.  An employee’s personal holiday may also be donated.  Please call Human Resources (963-1202), if you need a shared leave donation form.

RETIREMENT PLAN CONTRIBUTION RATES
Retirement Plan Contribution Rates Go Down For Some Employees
Plan 2 members of PERS, TRS and LEOFF will have less money deducted from their paychecks for their retirement.  This change was approved by the legislature and does not change the retirement benefit.  There will be no change in the deduction rates for plan 1 or plan 3 members.  PERS and LEOFF members will see the change on their July 25th checks.  TRS members will see the change on their September 25th checks.

PERS 2 rates decrease from 2.43% to 0.88% of gross pay.
LEOFF 2 rates decrease from 6.78% to 4.50% of gross pay.
TRS 2 rates decrease from 3.01% to 1.23% of gross pay.

For more information about the rate change, see:
http://www.drs.wa.gov/leg/govbill.htm

Or, for general information about your retirement plan, see:
http://www.drs.wa.gov/member/index.htm

FEDERAL INCOME TAX REFUND
The first of the federal tax refunds are on their way.  Taxpayers are eligible for rebate checks of up to $600.  The checks are being mailed in order of the last two digits in your Social Security number.  For married couples filing jointly, the first Social Security number on the return will be used.  The chart shows when you can expect to receive your refund check.
 
SSN end  Week check arrives
00-09 July 23
10-19 July 30
20-29 August 7
30-39 August 13
40-49 August 20
50-59 August 29
60-69 September 3
70-79 September 10
80-89 September 17
90-99 September 24
The rebate is a result of the tax-cut bill passed by Congress in June.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Book review from the Training Library:  “How to Manage Your Boss”.
Management is a two-way street.  You know your boss manages you.  What you may not know is that how you manage your boss can determine whether you succeed or not.  Bosses can be your greatest allies, or make your life miserable.  Which way it goes depends largely on how you manage the relationship.
You may check out this book, and others, by calling 963-2288, sending an email to hutchinl@cwu.edu, or stopping by our office in Bouillon 104.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., July 19, Barge Hall, room 201. If you are a delegate and cannot make the meeting, be sure to notify Colleen Rose and to let your alternate know so he/she will attend.

PRESENT:
Kim Thomas, Business and Administrative Support: Unit A
Nancy Bradshaw, Business and Administrative Support: Unit A
Pedro Garcia, Housing & Residential Services
Karol Barker, Dining Services
Marilyn Thompson, Dining Services
Kari Taylor, Instructional Support: Unit A, Chairperson
Gene Wilson, Instructional Support: Unit A
Leona Lindvig, Library Services
Ginger Linnell, Enrollment Management, Secretary

ABSENT:
Paula Moffatt, Business and Administrative Support: Unit B
Mike Posada, Business and Administrative Support: Unit B
Debbie Nethery, Instructional Support: Unit B
Dorothy Tenney, Plant and Facilities
Vernon Bier, Plant and Facilities
Al Edler, Plant and Facilities
Celia Johnson, Student Services and SUB: Unit B

ALSO PRESENT:
Ona Youmans
Colleen Rose
 
Have you checked it out yet? 

Formal Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year pictures have been taken and are displayed in a case at the front entrance to Bouillon Hall.  These photos will be used on the “past years” web page. 
http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/EOTM/EOTM.html

Special thanks to Kariann and Ginger for the nice display

.