Contract Reopener Bargaining Update

CSUEU has released a bargaining update about the reopener bargaining which happened on May 8. We hope to have an LSS bargaining update soon.

FY 2008/09 COMPENSATION: CSUEU AND CSU BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS

The 2006/2009 Contract between CSUEU and CSU provided for wage increases in FY 2007 and FY 2008 predicated on the assumption the CSU would receive one per cent above the compact between the Governor and the Chancellor. In 2006, the CSU publicly proclaimed the goal of reducing faculty and staff salary lags within five years. In order to realize this goal, the CSU pledged to fight for additional funding from the state budget; that is why our agreement provided for one percent above compact funding. As pledged, the Chancellor’s Office requested additional funding in their budget for FY 2008/09. However, due to the economic downturn affecting the state and the nation, the 2007 state budget provided no state general funds above the compact, and the 2008 budget may not even approach compact funding. All other CSU union contracts are based solely on compact funding. Since it appears that the CSU will not be receiving any funds above the compact, CSUEU and CSU initiated bargaining on May 8th to negotiate a pay package based only on compact funding as a contingency. If the CSU receives less than compact funding, all of the unions will be returning to the bargaining table to explore options.

CSUEU presented a proposal that would be in line with the 4% compact figure for FY 2008/09. Our proposal would provide employees in Bargaining Units 2, 5, 7 and 9 with:

• a general salary increase (GSI) of 3.45%, effective July 1, 2008
• a service-based salary increase of 1%
• the equivalent of .75% GSI for system-funded in-range progressions

The CSU has not yet responded to the union’s proposal. Our next bargaining session will be held in August, at which time we should know more about the state budget.

MAY REVISE: GOVERNOR RESTORES NEARLY $100 MILLION TO CSU; MAJOR CUTS STILL PROPOSED

The extraordinary organizing efforts of students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni who are part of the Alliance for the CSU have started to pay off. In the May 14, 2008, revisions to the state budget that was proposed in January 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger restored $97.6 million to the CSU budget. This is good news, but it nonetheless leaves the CSU budget with cuts of $288 million.

At the May 13-14 Board of Trustees meeting, the Trustees unanimously approved Access to Excellence, a new system-wide strategic plan. Major goals of this plan include reducing faculty and staff salary gaps and ensuring appropriate resources for professional development. It states that strategies should include a commitment to closing salary gaps where they exist, providing a safe and healthy environment, and offering appropriate levels of training and development.

These goals cannot possibly be met unless the CSU has sufficient resources in its budget. CSUEU strongly encourages its members to continue supporting the Alliance’s goals for full funding of the CSU. [See note below - Editor]

To find out how you can help with these efforts, visit http://allianceforthecsu.org

THE L WORD: LAYOFFS

To date, the CSUEU has not been notified of any layoffs of permanent staff on any of the CSU campuses. That is very good news, particularly when contrasted with the layoffs faced in 2003, 2004 and the early 1990’s. While those budget years were bad, they pale in comparison to the $17 billion deficit the state is now facing. That is why it is essential for us to continue to reinforce the value of the CSU and to work with the Alliance for the CSU. Each chapter should ensure that our membership is fully engaged.

CSUEU President Pat Gantt believes that this year’s state budget process will take longer than usual and that the CSU may not start substantial negotiations until they know more about the budget. We will continue to keep you informed about both the state budget deliberations as well as our negotiations with the CSU regarding compensation for FY 2008/09.

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Editor's note: Expect the personal information you provide on the Alliance cards and web form to be provided to others without your knowledge or consent. When asked, the Alliance conceded they might release people's personal information, without notice, to the CSU administration, but stated they would not release it to anyone else, including unions. We have recently learned that the Alliance is in fact releasing information to at least one union, CSUEU. The Alliance does not allow you to opt out of this information release. At this time, the Alliance does not post a privacy policy on their web site, or otherwise disclose how they will use your information.

If your chapter collects cards, or urges people to sign up on the Alliance web site, please warn people that their personal information may be released to others without notice. Employees should not provide any information they don't want given away to unknown third parties, including personal home or cell phone numbers, or personal email addresses. If you do fill out the Alliance card or web form, we suggest providing only your work contact information: campus mailing address, campus phone, and campus email address. An alternative would be for a group to select someone to act as a sacrifical lamb who will give up their personal information to the Alliance, and forward the action emails they receive from the Alliance to the rest of the group.