TTU Merit Pay Discussion Continues

A decision on pay raises for employees continued to cast a shadow two months later at the Tennessee Tech Board of Trustees.

Associate Vice President for Human Resources Leslie Crickenberger showed the board how a one-percent cost of living increase and a potential two percent merit pay raise were distributed. Crickenberger said the money for faculty raises went into a formula TTU has used for 30 years to pay faculty.

Board member Johnnie Stites took issue with it.

“So if I understand you correctly, you’re saying that one percent is just because they lived another year, another 2 percent, some of which we don’t understand, was given simply because people at other universities make more than them so they were given that,” Stites said.

It takes several factors into account, including pay at other universities and pay in the private sector for different fields of study.

“But I think the will of the board should be honored and the will was clearly stated in the minutes that 2 percent will be for merit pay,” Stites said.

“I think the will of the board was honored. I’m sorry but if you didn’t understand the proposal as it was presented, I don’t think that’s the fault of the board,” board Chairman Tom Jones said.

After more discussion, Jones said the meeting needed to continue.