The president of the union representing many university employees released this statement today on the raises approved by the regents for the presidents at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and Northern Iowa:
“The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 61 has always stood for fair compensation of state employees. The decision by the Board of Regents to give university presidents 4 percent raises by the Branstad administration has me very confused though. I would like to know how the Governor feels about these raises for Iowa’s regent university raises. Why is it that just yesterday, (August 3, 2011) Governor Branstad’s staff was criticizing AFSCME-covered employees’ July 1-2% raise and January 1-1% raise, but now are silent about these salary increases for his management? Why is he so opposed to modest raises for his middle class employees but silent on the raises that are given to administrators?”
See the Radio Iowa story on the raises here.