According to the union’s information, such fee increases could result in more than $700 per year in additional costs to employees on some campuses. Currently, parking fee increases can only be raised if CSUEU-represented employees receive a general salary increase (GSI), and these fees can increase no more than the percentage of the GSI.
The union re-submitted a key proposal in Article 3 to put a check on the wasteful contracting out of bargaining unit jobs. A recently released study by the nonpartisan watchdog Project on Government Oversight underscored just how wasteful contracting out can be: it found that the federal government signs off on service contract billing rates that, on average, pay contractors nearly two times more than the government pays federal employees in total compensation.
“We must enforce the current provisions in our collective bargaining agreement when we see or hear about contractors doing our work,” said VP for Representation Russell Kilday-Hicks. “However, we are also seeking new language to put in check indiscriminate and wasteful management contracting practices.”
Major discussions between both parties continue about both salaries and the classification and compensation system. The CSU compensation system leaves employees--including those with excellent job performances--languishing at the bottom of their scales. When employees work out of class and have increasing workload demands, they do not get recognition or pay. “These problems must be addressed,” added Kilday-Hicks. “We have made proposals that could begin to solve them. We recognize that there’s a significant shortfall in this year’s budget, but we need structural reforms and solutions now, before more time passes.”
CSUEU also discussed Article 24 (Layoff) with CSU. “From their statements, there seems to be less disagreement over the layoff and job security procedures than we understood from the CSU’s initial proposals,” said CSUEU Senior Labor Relations Representative and Chief Negotiator Lois Kugelmass. “However, we still have a significant problem with management’s demand to cut the red circle rates and other important job protections.”
During the three-day session, CSUEU and CSU reached a tentative agreement over Article 7 (Grievance Procedure) and significantly narrowed differences over Article 5 (Union Leave). CSUEU submitted a revised proposal to ensure that CSU has policies and training in place for the prevention of workplace bullying.
Bargaining resumes December 5, 6, and 7, 2011, at the Office of the Chancellor in Long Beach.
Keep up the good work in circulating the petitions against the parking fee pay cut proposal. We need everyone’s help and everyone’s signature. The time is now!
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