George,

Here is a quote from a recent letter from John Casteen--available in full text on his website.

Classified workers, sad to say, will have distinctly limited opportunities to benefit. Several legislators were concerned that the state's direct costs for its own groups of classified employees might be pushed upward as we respond to the local Charlottesville marketplace, and so they placed limits on what we can do for classified workers-an issue to pursue in future years.

For many months the UVA administration touted the "charter initiative" now called "restructuring" as being GREAT for employees. They said it enabled them to give more money to workers. Said it would be good for employees.

So now, in a classic "bait and switch" UVA says they really can't do anything for classified staff. SO, I'd like to know whom "several legislators" are that would get involved with the salaries of Charlottesville workers, why would any legislators think that C'Ville is inexpensive when we all know that it is almost as expensive to live here as it is in Northern Virginia, and just what is this statement? For years the UVA administration said they couldn't do anything for the state workers here because of state restrictions but now, after charter, they STILL cannot do anything for the workers here? So who can?

[Toscano or McCrystal] If ... elected would you stand up for UVA employees? Would you go up against the administration that obviously lied about the charter initiative? The Staff Union at UVA, a young, new organization always disputed what UVA said about how they would "take care" of their employees. We always knew about their bait and switch tactics but everyone poo-poohed us as being obstructionists and "malcontents" and well a UNION. God forbid we would have an actual union in Virginia--a voice for the voiceless.

I would like to know if anyone in this town is willing to stand up for 17,000 employees? I have already notified our currently elected legislators but have received no answer. Seems they are "talking" to the administration. Talking does the workers no good. We want answers; the employees and citizens of this community need answers instead of a "race to the bottom" as far as salaries go. It's bad enough that there will already be a two-tiered workforce here thanks to Mark Warner.

Come this fall when the management agreement is put forward, this will be a big issue. I would like to know what you think.

Thanks very much.

Jan Cornell (electronic mail, July 4, 2005)

Editor's note: This letter has been lightly edited for continuity.