NATIONAL UNION TO SURVEY UNIVERSITY JOBS

CHAMPAIGN, IL -- The Association of Academic Professionals at the University of Illinois will hold a press conference at 9 a.m. April 8 (Thursday) to announce an audit of professional jobs at the university. The press conference will be held in room 206 (the Bondurant Room) of the Illinois Disciples Foundation in Champaign (northwest corner of Springfield and Wright in Champaign).

Linda James, a senior professional associate with the National Education Association, will conduct the survey at no cost to the University and will fly in from Washington, D.C. to attend the press conference. James is conducting the audit to help the university ensure that academic professional employees are being paid fairly for their work.

According to a 1995 study, academic professional salaries vary greatly for individuals with the same job title, yet employees have virtually no information about how their salaries compare with others performing the same work within or outside the university. University administrators also admits the need for more complete information. According to a 1998 survey, salary is the top concern among academic professionals.

James has been involved in studies for academic professional employees at other colleges universities across the country, including the University of Maine.

Approximately 2,500 people work as academic professional employees at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a number larger than the faculty. The term "academic professional" does not include faculty or graduate assistants. Academic professionals work in administrative, technical and other professional areas.

The Association of Academic Professionals is a group of academic professionals attempting to organize a union, in the belief that employees are their own best advocates. The AAP is affiliated with the Illinois Education Association and the National Education Association, the nation's largest union with 2.3 million members.

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