The Red and Black

By ANDREW DEMILLO Staff Writer

As a possible three-month delay in University staff pay raises awaits Gov. Zell Miller's approval, University staff members met Wednesday afternoon to decide how to address the legislation.

The University Staff Council met at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education to discuss the delay, which was described by University President Michael Adams as a short-term sacrifice for new benefits added to the University's employee retirement program.

Janet Wondra, an assistant editor with the Georgia Review, said she had observed an "upwelling of distress" from other staff members.

"We had all contacted Sen. Paul Broun, and he seemed attentive to our interests," Wondra said. "But when there was discussion in the state senate, he said nothing."

Wondra said the short-term loss, as described by Adams, wasn't sufficient consolation for the delay.

"We are now paying to fund the retirement of about 520 faculty who only work for about nine months," Wondra said. "We've been treated unfairly for quite a few years now."

University Staff Council President Clyde Anglin, who said he will write a letter to the governor expressing staff members' concerns, said the Council did not have an official response.

"I'm not sure that we know what our position is at this time," Anglin said.

He added that the council, as a part of the University, is prohibited from lobbying legislators as a group.

One council member, Mary Cash, suggested that staff members intensify their campaign with legislators.

"We can, as a group, find out who makes this decision and attack," Cash said.

Wondra said she just wants other employees of the University to sacrifice in addition to the staff.

"They need to pay a price if we're going to also," she said.

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