+
EMPLOYMENT
Labor union, University to negotiate GTA contract
AMELIA ARVESEN news@kansan.com
The first discussion between the University and the Kansas Association of Public Employees will take place Tuesday to make adjustments to the graduate teaching assistant contract.
The contract applies to all GTAs, whether or not they are members of the union, and provisions include hours, wages and benefits.
Based on the potential University policy that could reduce graduate employees' work hours from 30 to 20 per week, graduate students are curious to know what changes the University has in mind.
"From what we know, administration would've negotiated this with just the union representatives, without consulting grads," said Laurie Petty, a graduate student in the sociology department.
The current contract became effective in 2010 and it was due for re-evaluation in 2013, said Ola Faucher, director of human resources at the
University.
“In that amount of time, a lot of things change,” Faucher said. “The University wanted to take the opportunity after so much time had passed to talk about salary and whatever else we need to talk about.”
She said the University specified GTA salary as the primary area of interest to discuss at today's session.
Under the current contract, a first-year GTA working 20 hours each week receives a minimum base salary of $12,500.
Petty said the majority of GTAs have families to support, mortgages and other bills to pay, and with a salary close to the national poverty line, she said she hopes the salary won't decrease.
Petty said she learned of the renegotiation meeting when she was researching membership with the Graduate Teaching Assistants Coalition, a union established in 1995 to represent graduate employees. The coalition is also affiliated with the American Federation of
Petty and other graduate employees like Shane Willson, who is also in the sociology department, have directed their efforts to increase the GTAC membership — which has been dormant for more than a decade — in hopes of increasing graduate representation. Wilson said the meeting has given them another motivation to provide input.
Teachers and KAPE.
"The more members we have the stronger we are," Willson said. "With more members, we are in a better position to negotiate for more pay, increased health insurance coverage and the rights of graduate students generally."
Eventually, the union must consult its members before changes go into effect. This would happen after both the University and the union agree on changes, but Willson said this is why membership is crucial.
way to make our voices heard," Willson said.
Faucher said the contract specifies a meeting must occur before the summer session but will not confer during summer unless both parties agree to do so. If not, they will meet in the fall to further discuss changes to the contract.
In the meantime, Petty and Willson said they will continue to inform graduate employees of the opportunity to join the union.
"The issue of the grad student time limits was the catalyst that really showed grad students we didn't have a
Regarding Affordable Care Act under student employment policies:
GRADUATE EMPLOYEE INFORMATION SESSIONS
Edited by Nick Chadbourne
Tuesday, 2 to 3 p.m., in the Wood ruff Auditorium, Kansas Union.
Friday, 3 to 5 p.m. at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries
Regarding GTAC membership:
Thursday, noon to 1 p.m. in the Malott Room, Kansas Union
CRIME
TOM DEHART/KANSAN
Firefighters responded to a report of a stolen vehicle Monday afternoon. The car collided with a railing behind JPH Hall as the suspect fled from pursuing officers. The suspect is now in custody
Suspect in campus car chase apprehended
Lawrence Police apprehended a suspect at 1130 W.11 St. who was fleeing from an allegedly stolen vehicle that crashed into the staircase behind Joseph R. Pearson Hall.
Officers responded to a stolen vehicle report at 1 p.m. Monday. At around 2:15 p.m., Lawrence Police spotted a gold two-door sedan matching the stolen vehicle's description near the intersection of Ninth Street and Emerald Road.
After a short vehicular pursuit, which lasted no more than 30 seconds, according to Sgt. Trent McKinley, public affairs officer for the Lawrence Police Department, the suspect crashed into the staircase and initially fled toward Memorial Stadium but changed
directions toward 1130 W.11th St.,where he was arrested.
The suspect was taken to the hospital, but McKinley said the suspect sustained no injuries from Monday's events.
The Lawrence Fire Department was called to the scene because gas was leaking from the vehicle, said Doug Green, a division chief for the Lawrence Fire Department. Green said the vehicle's position on the railing caused the leak.
Firefighters stopped the leak and successfully removed the vehicle from the staircase at approximately 4:30 p.m.
The identity of the suspect has not been released at this time. Continue to check kansan.com for more updates.
STATE
Miranda Davis and Tom DeHart
University student to run for 10th District House seat
news@kansan.com
TOM DEHART
Nick VanWyhe, a junior from Liberal, is campaigning for the 10th District in the Kansas House of Representatives. VanWyhe joined the Kansas National Gaurd in 2009 and toured in Africa in 2011.
University junior Nick VanWyhe registered on April 23 to run as a Republican candidate to represent the 10th District in the House of Representatives. He's currently the only Republican candidate registered to run in the upcoming election, and as of now will be running against Democratic representative John Wilson.
Among his main reasons for running for a seat in the House, VanWyhe said he's concerned about the condition of the economy — both at state and federal levels — as well as the dwindling funds for public education in primary and secondary schools, public universities and technical institutions.
"I recognize that the children are the future of the country," VanWyhe said. "And if you have educated individuals, they're going to be better off for their future, and it's also going to take a burden off of the economy as well. The way I look at it, they go hand-in-hand basically."
BRENT BURFORD/KANSAN
"I'm not your typical Republican. Hopefully the people will actually listen to me on the issues rather than casting judgment first."
NICK VANWYHE Junior from Liberal
Aside from his concerns for the economy and the funding for educational institutions, VanWyhe said he's also opposed to the government impeding on individual liberties and rights.
In 2009, he joined the Kansas National Guard and was later deployed to Africa in 2011 on a combat tour that lasted just over 13 months.
"As far as I could remember, I wanted to join the military for the simple fact to serve, and I did that, so that's kind of what got me into public interest," he said. "I want to serve. I want to give back to my country, to the state, to my community."
Nick's decision to run for a position in public service isn't the first decision he's made to serve his country and state.
Bill VanWyhe, Nick's adoptive father since he was one year old, said Nick's been interested
Nick's older sister, Eva VanWyhe, said that for Nick to be registered for candidacy at a young age is a good way for him to begin and further his career in public service.
"I don't think he'll have any problems holding his own," Bill said.
in politics since he was a child, describing him as level-headed and a strone debater.
"I just think that he knows what he wants, and he's dedicated and determined," Eva said. "So either
When asked to describe his political orientation, Nick said that he's fiscally conservative, but is socially moderate because he wants to balance and integrate individual liberties into current social issues. Running for a seat in the House of Representatives,
"Everybody asked me, 'Are you sure you're going to be able to do that?' and I said, 'Yeah, I'm sure I can do that,' Nick said. "I had to put off school once for my
way, if he doesn't get it now I know he will keep trying."
CLASSIFIEDS 7
CROSSWORD 5
he said, could potentially delay his schooling an extra semester if he were to be elected, but said he's more than willing to delay it to serve.
Index
deployment to go and serve, and I'm willing to do the same thing again."
CRYPTOQUIPS 5
OPINION 4
While running against an incumbent Democratic representative in Lawrence might pose a challenge to Nick, he hopes people will listen to him on the individual issues, and not just look at the "R" next to
SPORTS 8
SUDOKU 5
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2014 The University Daily Kansan
"I'm not your typical Republican," he said. "That's basically what I'm relying on, is hopefully the people will actually listen to me on the issues rather than casting judgment first."
his name.
Don't Forget
Partly cloudy. Zero percent chance of rain. Wind SSE at 23 mph.
Today's Weather
Edited by Callan Reilly
New city trash collection routes begin today.
1
+