(Un)limited Term: Same Work as Permanent State Employees, With Low Wages and Few Benefits

Here is an excerpt from the first part of an article I'm working on. I've omitted references to the name of the state agency that I'm talking about.

We’ve all heard the myth about the lush benefits of state employees, but limited term employees do the same work as permanent state employees, for less money and few benefits. In the economic downtown and the state budget crisis, limited term employees are the most vulnerable.

In 2005, my 60-year-old mother suddenly suffered a massive stroke that resulted in a four month hospital stay. Although I had worked full-time for the University for three years, I had no vacation or sick time. After emergency brain surgery, my mom remained in a Critical Care Unit for two weeks. Luckily, my department showed its generous support by taking up a collection, which helped make my mortgage payment while I took time off to be with my mom. I had no vacation or sick time because I was classified as a limited term employee (LTE).

According to a University of Wisconsin Press Release (http://www.news.wisc.edu/releases/12948 ), the purpose of LTE appointments is for campus units to carry out short term or seasonal work. LTEs are limited to no more than 1,043 hours, or six months of full-time work, per year. However, an individual may hold two LTE positions, resulting in ongoing full-time work.

It is commonly known within the realm of state employment that many individuals have been working in one or more LTE positions over long periods without becoming permanent, full time equivalency (FTE) employees, and without receiving the wages and benefits that accompany permanent state employment. In a recent survey of the University's 141 limited term employees, 76% of the 69 respondents indicated that they were limited term employees for a year or more, with 27% reporting six years or more as limited term employees. The average length of LTE employment was 11.6 years. Respondents were from a variety of University departments, including custodial, childcare, clerical, technology support, recreation, marketing, and more.

Those working two LTE positions, or full-time, are eligible for health insurance, dental insurance, and retirement savings. Those who are working only one LTE position, part-time, must pay half the premiums out of pocket. LTEs, no matter how many years they have worked for the state, get no vacation, sick time, personal or legal holidays, or any other benefits that permanent state employees receive. LTEs cannot participate in University committees or governance, nor are they eligible for grants, scholarships, or professional development funds, such as those available to permanent, University classified staff. LTEs have no job security, and under state law, they are prohibited from collective bargaining (http://slac.rso.wisc.edu/isthmus-june22-2001.html )

LTEs are generally paid less than permanent full time workers, even if they do the same work. Sixty five percent of survey respondents said they earned less than $20,000 per year before taxes, and 26% reported they are the sole provider for their families. In addition to low wages, 84% of survey respondents were female. And despite their low wages and few benefits, limited term workers are highly educated: 58% had a four year college degree or higher.

When I went through the confounding process of transitioning from a limited term employee to a permanent state employee (my job was advertised publicly and I had to interview and compete with others, including current state employees, for the position I had worked in for three years), I gained an almost $5 per hour wage increase for doing the same work. I also gained union representation, annual wage increases as negotiated by union contracts, sick time, vacation, paid holidays, personal days, and more...