Waving signs that read "The University of Enron" and "Kiss Your Benefits Goodbye," members of the University Staff Union rallied outside the steps of the Rotunda in response to the proposed charter legislation Friday.
The Staff Union, in conjunction with the Communication Workers of America, the Graduate Labor Union and the Students for a Living Wage Campaign, voiced concerns about how the proposed charter status will affect University employees and students. Staff Union members and graduate students said they are uncertain about how charter legislation will affect employees' salaries and paid time off and how the legislation will affect tuition rates.
Religious Studies Prof. Cory Walker said he believes the University did not adequately inform faculty members and employees about the charter legislation.
"Our University is responding to the market, not to the people," Walker said. "We have to commit ourselves to mobilizing to fight this proposal."
University spokesperson Carol Wood said University President John T. Casteen, III and Leonard Sandridge, University executive vice president and chief operating officer, held two employee briefings to inform employees about the proposed legislation. Both briefings were well attended, Wood said.
"President Casteen, Mr. Sandridge and Mr. [Gordon] Rainey, the University's rector, have long been on record regarding their commitment to employees of the University, clearly stating that our employees are our most important asset -- and they believe that charter will allow for many good changes for U.Va. employees," Wood said.
Charlottesville Vice-Mayor Kevin Lynch said the proposed charter's ability to increase the University's flexibility has the potential to positively affect University employees. But he said University administrators must make all details of the proposal available to faculty and staff.
"If it were made public, a number of the uncertainties could be ironed out," Lynch said.
Wood said the charter Web site includes a lengthy question-and-answer page and employees are encouraged to submit questions that will be answered in about a week.
"We believe it is important for employees to be well informed about charter and to understand it," Wood said. "We are committed to talking with employees and hearing their concerns."
Ethan Sribnick, president of the University's graduate labor union, said University graduate students are concerned about the proposed charter because they do not know how the legislation will affect finances for their research and scholarships.
Wood said this weekend's Board of Visitors meeting addressed issues pertaining to graduate students, and it is the administration's belief that the charter will attract more funding for research grants. University administrators are open to hearing graduate students' concerns, she said.
Michael Baker, member of the student living wage campaign, said he believes the University did not actively communicate with students about the proposed legislation.
"I had to learn about it from an independent news organization about the future of my institution," Baker said.
Wood said charter status briefings are open to the entire University community, and the administration encourages students to attend.
"The University wants to hear these concerns of all members of the community," Wood said. "These concerns can be folded into the process and be moved forward and addressed."
Sue Herndon, hospital worker and staff union member, spoke about the codified autonomy at the Medical Center. She said the workers at the hospital are unhappy with the autonomy there because paid time off is not sufficiently allocated and managers are limited to the percentage they can raise salaries.
"We have all the limitations of state employees with none of the protection," Herndon said.
Wood said while there have been a few isolated cases in which employees at the hospital have been unhappy with the structure of the codified autonomy, overall, there have been numerous benefits at the Medical Center that have improved patient care.
The University will continue to address employee and student concerns and provide the University community with updated information, Wood said.
"We believe charter is good for our employees and good for the future of the University," she said. "We have great employees and we want to hear what they have to say. Their voices are important."
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