Truman Union threatens lawsuit

Truman State University’s union, LiUNA Local 955, hung flyers during the Winter Interim claiming to have filed a lawsuit against the University. The lawsuit is a method being used by the Union to bring Truman’s administration back to the table to negotiate over wage and salary increases amid a 40 cent increase in employees hourly wage. 

This year, the University increased employees wages by 40 cents per hour, with the new starting salary paying $15.50 per hour or higher. This increase was to address salary compression and to increase starting salaries in academic disciplines that are currently below the College and University Professional Association median.  

Truman General Counsel Mark Herrmann said the University has not been served with any court papers. Herrmann could not comment on the lawsuit without papers, but gave background information on the wage increase.

“This is a tight year financially,” Herrmann said. “The 3% core funding increase for higher education approved by the state legislature was reduced to 1.5% by the Governor due to state revenue shortfalls. That constraint shaped the total amount available for compensation increases this year.”

Herrmann said despite this lack of funding, the University has been working over several years to raise wages for its lowest-paid employees, including a special mid-year increase in 2022 for employees earning under $50,000.  

Over the past five years, Physical Plant wages have increased by an average of 30.7%, with some entry-level wages rising by more than 41%.

The wage disparity between Trumanss administration and its employees was featured on the flyers with Truman President Sue Thomas’ $300,000 salary being posted with only a 40 cent increase for staff. Thomas’ salary as the University president is actually $288,953 which is the highest paid position at Truman. 

“The lawsuit is to get TSU back to the table.” Andrew Hutchinson, LiUNA representative and Public Employees Organizing Director  said. “President Thomas and her team left the bargaining table and are unilaterally implementing their offer — when we are not done negotiating yet.”

These flyers were taken down within a day of being hung. The TSU Union not being associated with any chartered organizations meant they could not get approval to hang the flyers. However, the swiftness of the removed flyers was not directed by the University.

“Regarding the flyers, I do not know who removed them,” Herrmann said. “It is possible they were taken down during a routine bulletin-board review conducted over winter break. If they were removed earlier, it was not at the University’s direction.”

Hermann said the University values its working relationship with the union and respects their role in advocating for their members.

The University met with union representatives beginning in the summer. In December, the Board of Governors approved a compensation plan that provides a 40 cent per hour increase across full-time employee groups, which is a larger increase than we initially thought would be possible.

LiUNA Local 955 represents workers across the state of Missouri. They represent two other universities other than Truman State, those being the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.