Editor,
This is a response to the letter in the Aug. 20 Daily Lobo titled, “Union agreement did not include equity increases,” by Susan Carkeek, associate vice president of Human Resources.
In this letter, Ms. Carkeek stated that UNM had no policy regarding equity increases. She went on to say that the union contract, “does not allow for individual ‘merit’ or ‘equity’ increases.” Ms. Carkeek also stated that US-UNM representatives, “concurred with the University’s position,” and that the information that US-UNM has been providing to its employees is incorrect.
In fact:
1) While US-UNM’s representatives were apprised of the University’s position on equity pay, we at no time concurred with it.
2) US-UNM has not agreed that staff members experiencing pay inequity should not seek redress.
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3) Human Resources is obfuscating the issues of “merit” and “equity.” Merit is a subjective measurement designed to increase an individual staff member’s salary based on a performance evaluation, while equity involves an objective measurement of where the same staff member should be on the salary scale depending on grade and length of service.
US-UNM believes that it is of primary importance that all staff members be moved to the appropriate point in UNM’s own salary scale based on their longevity at UNM and other market factors, and that employees should exercise any and all avenues to achieve equity.
We notice that UNM is currently conducting another staff salary study.
If its purpose is not to remedy pay inequities, then what exactly is its purpose?
US-UNM will seek clarifications of UNM salary policies and will keep members of the Education Support Unit informed of our findings.
Harry P. Norton,
Office of Admissions
President US-UNM
