DE Assistant Politics Editor

A survey to determine the preferred type of salary increases for a group of SIUC civil service employees was sent out this week for the first time in 10 years, committee members say.

Pansy Jones, Range Committee chairwoman, said the survey will offer three salary-increase types:across the board, merit or a combination of across the board and merit.

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An across the board pay raise would take all available money for civil service employees salaries and divide it among range employees with all workers getting equal pay. Merit increases are based on job performance, and a range employee would get a salary increase according to how well they performed on the job.

Ruth Bernhardt, Range Committee member, said once the results of the survey are tabulated, the committee will meet again and make a recommendation to Chancellor John C. Guyon about which type of pay increase the employees prefer.

This way, he gets some input from the survey of range employees, Bernhardt said. It doesn’t mean that they will be implemented. If he has the input, he’ll know how range employees feel. We can only hope they’ll take that into consideration.

Bernhardt said the survey also responds to one of SIU President Ted Sanders’ University priorities which were released in December. She said one of Sanders’ priorities states that employees should receive salary increases based on productivity and job performance.

The president’s office has said that most increases will be merit, she said. Traditionally, range employees have received across the board increases. We thought we’d get range employees’ opinions.

Bobby Lee, SIUC storekeeper, said he preferred merit raises because they allow supervisors to reward employees for good work.

With across the board increases, an employee who does an outstanding job receives the same amount as someone who does a mediocre job, Lee said.

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Debbie Miller, general accountant, said she prefers across-the-board increases.

I just think it’s equal to everybody, Miller said. Merit is based on objectivity of the supervisor. If they don’t care for you it would be biased. Across the board would be more objective.

Jones said the deadline for the survey is Friday. She said she is optimistic that range employees will respond.

I just hope we get a real good return so we have a good sampling of what the range employees are thinking, Jones said.