10
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, November 3, 1967
Low wages, competition create labor shortage
By Diane Wengler
Kansan Staff Reporter
A KU official blames the Sunflower Army Ammunitions Plant for a shortage of oculostodias, cooks and watchmen at the University,
Philip Rankin, KU personnel director, said the Sunflower plant, 15 miles east of Lawrence, is in a better position to attract employees than KU because it pays "considerably higher" wages. He explained that this is possible because Sunflower is a private federal contracting agency.
Rankin said Sunflower pays watchmen a starting salary of $375 a month while KU pays only $230. Janitors, he said, are paid $350 a month at Sunflower but receive only $231 at KU.
"Our salaries are deficient." Rankin said, "but research is being done to see what can counteract this."
Harry Buchholz, director of buildings and grounds, refused to say how many watchmen KU was short, but he said 12 custodial positions were vacant.
The State Personnel Division is doing a study now, Rankin said to compare Kansas' salaries with the Federal Labor Statistics to see where Kansas is deficient. Also, he said, the University subscribes
"Salaries Deficient"
to similar studies the Public Personnel Association in Chicgo completes.
A pay increase of 5 per cent is being recommended by the state finance council to the 1963 Legislature, Rankin said, to try to improve salaries at the lowest levels.
Although the situation probably won't get worse, Rankin said, it won't be better either until Sunflower reduces its employee need.
Jobs Not Available
Call me and I'll give you a fill-in on all nine of The Benefactor's big benefits. No obligation, of course.
Rankin said the new federal wage law also provides that any employee who works more than 44 hours a week must be paid time and a half. Although state law says Kansas will not pay time and one-half for overtime, Kansas gives one and one-half hours time off with pay for every hour of overtime worked.
Although the government civil service jobs aren't available to students enrolled in more than five credit hours, Rankin said many students work on a student payroll on an hourly basis. However, he said, this year the new amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act is limiting for budgetary reasons the number of students the University can employ. Student help, is now being paid $1 an hour but after Feb. 1, the minimum wage will be $1.15 an hour.
The only way these two laws can be resolved, he said, is if the federal government wins its Supreme Court test case with Maryland. This Maryland law, Rankin said, is similar to the Kansas law. If the federal government wins, he said, Kansas will have to pay its federal employees time and one-half for overtime too.
*DWIGHT BORING
2020 Harvard
Lawrence, Kansas
Phone VI 2-0767
representing
THE COLLEGE LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY
OF AMERICA
Raymond Nichols, vice chancellor of finance, said he doesn't think that the public is aware of many of the University's needs.
A. Only college men are insured by College Life and college men are preferred risks.
...the only Company selling exclusively to College Men
For the cleanest wash and the fastest service in Lawrence
"Citizens in the state aren't aware of our money problems, because they aren't close enough to the University."
JAYHAWKS, Wash up the Wildcats!
Come to
GRAVITT'S AUTOMATIC LAUNDRY
Q. Where can a college man get the most for his life insurance dollars?
913 New Hampshire 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Dwight Boring* says...
Bring it in early— We'll have it for you the same day.
A. From College Life Insurance Company's famous policy, THE BENEFACTOR!
Q. How come?
the all-together is all the gentleman needs
To face the challenges of days to come, we bring all together in suits, topcoats and furnishings. All including this year, stout cavalry twill and window-pane plaids in suits, and the weather-worthy coats to cover them. All together now, dress right!
DOWNTOWN
839 Mass. - Downtown
1420 Crescent - On The Hill