CSUEU E-News: December 15, 2011
Biweekly news digest from the California State University Employees Union
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BARGAINING CONTINUES IN JANUARY
TRIGGER CUT TO THE CSU: $100 MILLION
LEGISLATORS CALL FOR INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION
SERVING AS PRESIDENT: A LEARNING EXPERIENCE
PAYCHECK INITIATIVE QUALIFIES FOR BALLOT
IN MEMORIAM: ANNETTE LUJAN
IN MEMORIAM: BILL PATTON
NEW WOMEN’S ADVOCACY AND LABOR CAUCUS
CALL FOR EDITORIAL CARTOONS
SHOP UNION THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
HOLIDAY PARTY PHOTOS
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Bargaining Continues in January
The CSUEU bargaining team met with CSU management at the Office of the Chancellor in Long Beach from Monday, December 5, through Thursday, December 8, with Thursday as an additional day beyond the originally scheduled three days of sessions. The two sides reached tentative agreements on several articles of the contract. Importantly, protection from layoffs was included.
“Management has heard us loud and clear about how difficult a parking fee increase could be for many of our members,” said VP for Representation Russell Kilday-Hicks. In addition to potential parking fee increases, such significant issues as salary structure (Article 20) and protection against contracting out of bargaining unit work (Article 3) remain.
Further meetings with management have been scheduled for Thursday and Friday, January 12-13, at the Office of the Chancellor.
“A showdown looms in January over salary structure, parking fees, duration of the agreement and contracting out,” said CSUEU President Pat Gantt. “Although we have moved further along in the process with more tentative agreements, the final desired outcome is an agreement that the members can vote on and ratify.”
Trigger Cut to the CSU: $100 Million
In a press conference on Tuesday morning, December 13, Gov. Brown announced that state funding support for CSU will be cut by $100 million, on top of a $650 million reduction already in place for this fiscal year, as a result of lower-than-projected state revenues.
The additional cut reduces CSU funding to $2 billion and represents a 27 percent year-to-year reduction in state support. This year’s budget features the lowest level of state support the system has received since 1997-98, yet CSU now serves an additional 90,000 students. Gov. Brown forecast even worse cuts to all services next fall, including public higher education, if revenue-generating ballot initiatives fail in the November election.
The Office of the Chancellor has announced that campuses will take such short-term measures as drawing on one-time reserves and delaying equipment purchases and facility maintenance work to get through the remaining months of this fiscal year.
Yet further proposed cuts for next year can be expected in the governor’s 2012-13 budget, which will be announced in mid-January.
“As increasingly expensive public higher education goes more and more beyond the reach of our middle class youth, the state loses one of its most powerful economic engines: a skilled, highly educated workforce,” said CSUEU President Pat Gantt. “Legislators and ordinary citizens alike must ask themselves what kind of California we all want to live in as we try to balance the state’s budget in the months and years to come.”
Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement: “What we have feared for months is now our reality—and, unless we come together to find new resources for K-12 and higher education, we are going to surrender the current and future generations and dismantle a once-proud public education system that can no longer meet the demands of a growing economy.”
Read the Department of Finance's revenue report (PDF).
Read the SEIU California State Council's press release about the trigger cuts.
Legislators Call for Independent Investigation of CSU Pepper Spray Incident
By Teven Laxer, Senior Labor Relations Representative, CSUEU
After nearly five hours of testimony at a joint legislative hearing of the Senate Education Committee and Assembly Committee on Higher Education examining the policies governing demonstrations and the use of force at both the University of California and the California State University, committee co-chair Marty Block (D- San Diego) said that the committee would send a letter to Chancellor Charlie Reed demanding that CSU conduct an investigation into the turmoil at the November 16 Board of Trustees meeting.
Most of the testimony at the hearing, held at the Capitol yesterday, December 14, focused on the use of pepper spray at UC Davis on November 18. By now, millions of people around the world have seen video clips of that incident. But, not as much light has been shed on the events that took place at the CSU Board of Trustees meeting on November 16.
Lawmakers at the hearing astutely observed that CSU students and union representatives contradicted testimony given by CSU Executive Vice Chancellor Ben Quillian and CSU Systemwide Chief Law Enforcement Officer Nate Johnson about what happened on the 16th.
Johnson stated that students pepper sprayed police officers and that officers took beatings to the head and arms. He also accused students of destroying state property--namely, “ripping doors off their handles and breaking the glass” of the front door of the Chancellor’s Office. Student Charlie Eaton stated that students did not cause that damage and that it was caused by police. During the public comment period, I later collaborated that testimony, stating that police wedged a baton into the door frame and then leaned on the door, causing it to break. You Tube videos posted by Univision show what happened.
San Diego State University student Ashley Wardle was one of four students arrested that day. She testified that there had been no warnings given to the protestors and no amplified sound. She was pepper sprayed, forced to lie on her stomach, and handcuffed. She said she didn’t witness anyone pepper spray an officer, adding, “I will continue to protest, because I believe in quality higher education.”
When asked by Assembly Member Marty Block whether CSU intended to conduct an independent review of the BOT incident, Quillian responded emphatically with a one-word answer: “No.”
Bloch expressed concern about the “diametrically opposed testimony” presented, stating, “That’s why you have an independent review.”
Read Laxer’s comments to the committee.
Serving as Chapter President: A Learning Experience
By Sandee Noda, San Francisco State University Chapter 305
Sandee Noda being sworn in as chapter president at the Board of Directors meeting late last month.
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Transitions happen for various reasons. As a long-time activist, my opportunity to step up and help our chapter as president came this past summer, when our chapter was looking for new leadership. And it’s been quite a transition indeed, both for the chapter as a whole and for me personally.
We have accomplished a lot in a short time. The executive board has met with our membership as a group and as bargaining units. This fall, our represented employees participated in the Capwiz campaign opposing proposed parking fee hikes, and more than 400 staff, students and faculty signed the parking fee petition that was presented to the CSU Board of Trustees on November 15. Our executive board revised our bylaws (subject to ratification by our membership) to align with the union’s bylaws and policy file, while at the same time incorporating Bargaining Unit 12 (SFSU Head Start).
It has been a challenge to be the president. I have had to improve my time management and leadership skills. One of the more gratifying and memorable moments came when I was first introduced as president following my swearing in at the November Board of Directors meeting and was warmly welcomed by our chapter membership.
I am fortunate to work with a committed executive board. The support of all the officers has truly made a positive difference for me and for my commitment to our chapter.
I encourage all members to get involved with the union...together we can make a difference!
Paycheck Deception Initiative Qualifies for November Ballot
Wealthy corporate interests are once again coming after union families in an effort to silence our voice and clear the field of any opposition to their agenda. This latest attack comes in the form of a “paycheck deception” ballot initiative that corporate backers say is about special interests, but that in fact is designed to strip middle-class workers from having a voice in politics. The initiative qualified last week to appear on the November 2012 general election ballot.
Proponents of the initiative claim it would reign in campaign contributions by both unions and corporations, but in fact, the deceptive wording of the initiative specifically targets unions, while a big loophole leaves corporate campaign spending essentially unscathed and unchecked. Here are some of the many problems with this initiative:
- It effectively silences working people’s voices by putting up roadblocks to voluntary political contributions from union members collected via payroll deduction.
- The right-wing millionaire supporters of this initiative have written a giant loophole into the measure that would allow for unlimited corporate spending on political campaigns.
- It would result in big corporations and their lobbyists having even greater influence over our political system. Corporations already outspend unions 15-1 in politics.
- A loophole in this measure would allow corporations to make unlimited expenditures through shadowy front groups to support or oppose candidates.
- This measure would severely restrict union members in both the public and private sector from having a voice in our political process. Every union in California would be impacted.
- Right-wing, anti-worker extremists have sponsored similar measures in dozens of states in the past. They also tried passing similar measures twice before in California, and voters rejected those measures both times—but their defeat came at great expense.
This initiative is full of consequences that hurt all working families. It does nothing to limit corporate influence on politics while severely curtailing working people’s ability to have a voice.
Read an FAQ with full details.
View the entire measure (PDF).
In Memoriam: Annette Lujan
On December 7, we lost one of our union sisters, Annette Lujan, 48, in a tragic elevator accident at the CSU Long Beach Foundation building. Annette had worked for the last nine years on campus, including five years in the University Office of Research for Grants and Contracts.
“Annette was a union activist who didn’t fear fighting for her rights. Two years ago she fought and won an equal pay for equal work grievance and won an 11.6 percent raise settlement,” said Chapter 315 President Peggy O’Neil-Rosales, who represented her.
Read the entire article.
In Memoriam: Bill Patton
By Ray Finnell, CSU Bakersfield
CSUEU lost one of its revered and longtime activists last week. Bill Patton, who progressed from Unit 5 employee to Labor Relations Representative, passed away Sunday after a six-year battle with cancer. He would have turned 71 this December 25.
“I will always think of him as Bill the Lionhearted,” commented CSU Chico chapter President Pat Heath. “He was a tireless champion for labor and for the disenfranchised,” she added.
Read the entire article.
New Women’s Advocacy and Labor Caucus
by Caucus Chair Nancy Kobata
In early 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the equal-pay Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, but in November, 2010, the Senate failed to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would have given women additional and much-needed equal pay protections. Clearly, our work is not yet over.
On November 5, a small group of women activists got together with the single purpose of facilitating open and respectful communication with CSUEU using the principles of encouragement, dignity, respect and influence to focus on:
- the positive portrayal of women in the labor movement and media
- upward mobility
- affirmative action
- comparable worth and pay equity
- access to health care
- violence against women
- child care
- discrimination
- sexual harassment
- hostile work environment
- violence in the workplace
- any other challenges facing women
On November 6, the CSUEU Board of Directors granted recognition to the Women’s Advocacy and Labor Caucus (WALC). The vision for the WALC is a community where more women are in the higher echelon of the labor movement and there is a better understanding and knowledge of women’s issues. To bring our vision into reality, the WALC works to support and promote women’s advocacy at all levels as well as increase political activism in CSUEU. We will represent and fight to ensure that women’s voices are heard.
Our next scheduled meeting will be at the March Board of Directors meeting in San Diego on March 9, 2012. If you would like to get on the mailing list for discussion and activities, send an email to nkobata@calcsea.org or jotis@fullerton.edu.
Call for Editorial Cartoons
Got an idea for an editorial cartoon? The editors of University Employee want to see it. We’re seeking tasteful but humorous pieces that poke fun at working in a university environment. Please, no name-calling, profanity, or underhanded jabs. The idea is to make light of—while making a point about—the situations, policies, habits, limitations, freedoms, etc., of behind-the-scenes or in-the-spotlight life in higher education. Accomplished artwork is not required—just a pithy punch line.
Is the idea there, but you can’t draw? Send the idea anyway; we may be able to find an artist who can put your joke into a picture. Remember, the idea must be yours—no copyright violations!
Please send your idea or scan your cartoon and send a PDF to Ray Finnell or John Watson. Include an e-mail address or phone number at which we can easily reach you. CSUEU’s Communications Committee, statewide officers, and staff reserve editorial rights over all work that is submitted.
Ready? Draw!
Support Good Jobs: Shop Union This Holiday Season
The best way to support union families this holiday season is to patronize pro-worker stores and establishments and choose union-made goods and services. By buying union, you are not only getting quality, American-made products. You are supporting good-paying jobs that help rebuild America's middle class.
Here are some easy ways to support union families this holiday season:
Holiday Party Photos
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| A highlight of the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo annual holiday luncheon and general meeting on November 30 was this Elvis medley featuring members Jimmy Motley, Cheryl Westfall, Jennifer Craghead, and Adrian Hallin. |
An estimated 300 members attended the CSULA Chapter 311 holiday meeting on December 8. |
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