Tentative Agreement Reached With CSU

The California State University Employees Union (CSUEU) and California State University (CSU) have reached a tentative agreement on wages and benefits for fiscal year 2007-08.

The CSUEU announcement [PDF]:

The CSU Employees Union, SEIU Local 2579, is pleased to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with the CSU on wages and benefits for fiscal year 2007/08. On November 17, the Union bargaining team voted unanimously to accept the CSU’s November 8th conceptual proposal, which was substantially similar to proposals the union has been discussing with the CSU for several weeks. CSUEU and CSU will now draft final language, which will be submitted to the CSU Board of Trustees for ratification in early December. Reopener agreements are not subject to ratification by the union’s membership. Assuming there are no delays in processing the raises, employees should see their new pay rates reflected in December, and should receive retroactive checks in January.

“The bargaining team and board of directors believe this is an acceptable agreement,” said CSUEU President Pat Gantt. “We now intend to focus our energy on fighting for adequate funding for the CSU in FY 2008.”

Highlights of the Tentative Agreement between CSUEU and CSU are as follows:

• General Salary Increase (GSI) of 3.457%, retroactive to July 1, 2007.
• Service Salary Increase (SSI) of 1% for eligible employees, to be paid on an employee’s anniversary date in FY 2007/08.
• Retroactive to July 1, 2007, the SSI Maximum Rate will be increased by another 5%, which will make more employees eligible for SSIs during FY 2007/08.
• Rural healthcare subsidy for eligible employees in PERS-designated zip codes without access to HMOs will increase from $750 per year to $1000 per year.
• Pursuant to a side letter negotiated in May 2007, parking fees will be increased by 3.457%, retroactive to July 1, 2007, only on those campuses where students are currently paying more than staff.
• CSUEU and CSU will continue to participate in mediation over the disputed .25%. The Union’s goal is to maximize the GSI. The CSU wants to dedicate these funds to market salary adjustments.

Your CSUEU Bargaining Team

• Pat Gantt (Chico), CSUEU President
• Dennis Dillon (Northridge), Vice President for Representation
• Pam Robertson (Sacramento), Chair, BU 2 Council
• Lynn Barba (Fullerton), Vice Chair, BU 2 Council
• Sharon Cunningham (San Diego), Chair, BU 5 Council
• Donna Dodrill (Northridge), Vice Chair, BU 5 Council
• Annel Martin (San Bernardino), Chair, BU 7 Council
• Jennifer O’Neal-Watts (Sacramento), Vice Chair, BU 7 Council
• Rich McGee (San Bernardino), Chair, BU 9 Council
• Rocky Waters (Humboldt), Vice Chair, BU 9 Council
• Teven Laxer, Chief Negotiator