AU reviews employee complaints of pay disparity
Published: November 17, 2009
Auburn University is reviewing complaints by a group of employees alleging they are paid less than co-workers of a different race who perform the same job.
Mike Clardy, director of university communications, said the university is working with the employees to resolve the issue.
But the University’s response has been too slow, according to Auburn City Council Member Arthur L. Dowdell, who said he plans a press conference early next week to highlight the issue.
Dowdell said the group of about eight black employees who do custodial work filed complaints with the university and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission office in Birmingham in early October.
Attempts to contact the EEOC office in Birmingham for confirmation and the employees Dowdell said filed the complaint Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Clardy said the university had responded to inquiries from Dowdell.
“We did receive a communication from Reverend Dowdell, and we let him know we were working on a resolution,” Clardy said.
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Reader Reactions
Believe me, I’m not equipped to address your performance. “My friend” was sort of an olive branch but have it your way. I know what AA means, and wanted to be clear that my use of EA was in no way associated with East Alabama anything. I see where you get off in fantasy land (or simple assumption) about areas of improvement and the resulting positive outcomes. That would say that as a leader, you continue to challenge your team members, continue to raise standards of performance, continue focus on deliverables at lower cost, etc, AND HAVE ZERO turnover. Not likely. My experience in the private sector, not at a taxpayer funded institution like AU, is that long term differences in pay are tied to long term differences in performance, nothing more, nothing less.
LOL, interesting. I have always been a hard worker and go above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to doing my job and expect the same from employees, co-workers/peers. So your response is not completely true. I am without a doubt concerned about the job getting done, but I am also sensitive to the needs and concerns of others.
I’m not your friend and AA mean exactly what I stated it meant in my post, African American and yes it can mean Alcoholics Anonymous if that’s what AA represents for you in your post in this topic of discussion then that’s fine. Again your assumption is that because I have an opinion and I’m an AA that I am ignorant to the point of even knowing what the acronym AA means…sad.
Employees in my department work hard and do an outstanding job. When there are areas where improvement is warranted it is addressed with a positive outcome.
Regarding your statement about East Alabama, correct me if I’m wrong, but I do not remember mentioning East Alabama in my post or stating that you work there simply because it is irrelevant to me as to where you work or where I work. The point is that AU has a pay disparity for employees performing the same job. It has been that way for the twenty plus years that I have been at AU and I’m sure the same problem exists with other employer as well.
BelieveIt, your response leads me to believe that you are about the sensitivities associated with the employees stated needs, rather than performance standards, and results. That is as far from fair as you can get. Performance is measured objectively. Race and status are not factors in objective employment performance measures such as attendance, productivity, and quality. Failure to meet the minimums required for a merit increase or promotion consideration is certainly not limited to a particular race or socio economic group. The breakdown occurs when individuals fail to meet requirements then claim their failure is a result of racial bias. Oh, my AA friend, EA does not mean East Alabama anymore than AA means Alcoholics Anonymous.
Deli0523, your comment indicates to me that you form an opinion on employees before your even hear the complaint. Your response also sound racist whether you meant it to or not. How can employees be treated fairly when people already has formed a decision or decided on the outcome before the complaint is made? “As an EA employer,“ maybe you of all employers should be a bit more tolarant and stop downgrading others educational level and background, yes I definetely got the true meaning of your post. The bottom line is that the disparaity at AU is more than likely about race. I hear complaints from all races not just one group of people and I am aware that some will be legit and some are not legit but I do not judge a person’s reasoning for requesting leave based on their race or status in life.
Let’s see, as a EA employer, I’m going to share some complaint experiences regarding equal pay/equal work/merit increases, and pay/promotion factors—
Length of Service—“we always the last ones hired”
Attendance—“my baby daddy grannies other auntie died, she was like a momma to me, so I had to miss 6 days work”
Performance—“see what had happen was uh,uh,uh.“
It is unfortunate that the EEOC even wastes taxpayer dollars pursuing this crap. Contrary to what King, I mean councilman Arthur says, this is about performance standards, expectations, and results, not race.
Well AU does seem to love throwing money away. Look at the idiotic duplication of service with their alleged Department of Public Safety and Security. This is nothing but the beginnings of a new police department.They have a Public Safety Director making over $100,000, an assistant Public safety Director, a handful of high ranking staff and a contracted security force (Allied Barton). Why do they need the City Police who are providing the same service. Just a waste of money if you ask me.
kjam,psych1,
so correct i applied for a job at my placement and they had already chosen who they wanted for the position.I confronted them about it ,but they denied it.they said it was coincidental that person was chosen.So you know i was BLACK-BALLED,because i stood up.but what made the situation worst,the person was allowed to work part-time to see if he wanted the job.Part-time for a month? Then they said,he had been doing the position(Teamleader),and had experience.But they went thru the interview process to make it legit.was that legit??? didn’t Johnnie Green have a new position before it was posted??? then people complain about AFFIRMATIVE ACTION,AND QUOTAS.But this is the reason why that law went into effect…THE GOOD OL’ BOY NETWORK” PLUS those workers all worked for AU in the same capacity,it would have been stupid for the company to not hire people that had 10-20years of experience.
I agree with psych1. They only post the job openings because they have to. Usually someone already in will get it, unless it is a job nobody wants.
Dear Cls67,
In response to your question. AA is an acronym for African American.
Cls67,
AA is an acronym for African American.
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