2009 CSEA Women's Conference

Since there doesn't seem to be a web site for the CSEA 2009 Women's Conference, we've taken this information from the PDF of the brochure and published it here for your convenience.

As the brochure notes, Participation in this event is at the expense of the attendee. The registration fee is $165, and the registration deadline is March 9.

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CSEA 2009 Women's Conference

A Women's Conference for Everyone
March 27-29, 2009
Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza, Sacramento

Theme: Reaching New Heights Together

Schedule

Friday, March 27, 2009
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.	Vendor / Exhibitor area open
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.	Welcome Reception Special Guests: Lt. Governor John & Patti Garamendi

Saturday, March 28, 2009
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.	Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 9:30 a.m.	Opening Ceremonies and Speakers Speaker: TBD
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.	Session 1 Workshops Technology Today or Raising the Bar
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.	Session 2 Workshops Women's Financial Planning or Women's Leadership
Noon – 1:30 p.m.	Luncheon & Fashion Show Sponsored by Drapers & Damons
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.	Session 3 Workshops Women's Leadership or Women's Financial Planning
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.	Session 4 Workshops Raising the Bar or Technology Today
3:30 – 4:15 p.m.	Workshop Wrap-up
Open evening
Optional evening casino event (TBD)

Sunday, March 29, 2009
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.	Brunch Motivational speaker, Ms. Dixie Schneider, RN, BSN, PHN A Dose of Dixie Closing cerermonies
9:00 – 12 noon	Vendor / Exhibitor area open
A variety of exhibitors and vendors will be on hand including (but not limited to) CSEA Affiliates, information on women's health care issues, crafts, and jewelry.

Presenter Information

Technology Today

Thomas Davis
CSEA Chief Information Officer

Women's Leadership: Networking Tips

Dr. Emily Murase
Executive Director, Dept. on the Status of Women

Raising the Bar – 'EQ' (Emotional Quotient) and Generational Values

Jane Yow
Training and Organizational Development Consultant

Women's Financial Planning

Antionette Del Peral and Brenda Best
Orange County Financial Services

Hotel Information

Call the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza at (916) 446-0100 directly to make your guest room reservation.
Ask for the CSEA Women's Conference rate of $84 single, $119 double plus 12% tax and tourism fee.

Deadline for making reservations at the conference rate is Feb. 27, 2009.
A credit card number or one night's deposit is required to confirm your reservation.
Airport shuttle by SuperShuttle — 1-800-BLUEVAN — approximately $14 each way.

*On-line reservations available at www.ichotelsgroup.com, use booking code AWD.

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Link

• 2009 CSEA Women's Conference brochure and registration form [PDF]

Resolutions from Trustees Meeting

Resolutions from Tuesday and Wednesday's meeting of the CSU Board of Trustees have been published.

Note: The resolutions can be on the short and uninformative side, amounting to The Whatever Proposal in Agenda Item X of the Committee on Something is adopted. Read the agendas for details and background information.

The resolutions include:

• Amending the 2008-2009 non-state funded capital outlay program to include $3,379,000 for a project at CSU Fullerton and $2,997,000 for a project at CSU San Bernardino
• Amending the 2008-2009 state funded capital outlay program to include $10,547,000 for the California State University, Dominguez Hills, Cogeneration Plant and Lighting Upgrades Project.
• Adopted a Statement of Legislative Principles to provide basic parameters to guide positions taken by the Chancellor and system representatives on matters pending before the California Legislature (see page 4 of the PDF of the Committee on Governmental Relations agenda). The Committee agenda states there are no changes from the previous statement of principles.
• Adopted a 2009 Legislative Program consisting of:
  • Authorization for the CSU to award the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree
  • Elimination of the 2011 sunset date on some specific exemptions to the California Information Practices Act for the CSU and UC
  (See page 7 of the PDF of the Committee on Governmental Relations agenda.)
• Adopted a 2009 federal legislative program (see page 11 of the Committee on Governmental Relations agenda).
• Approved the 2009 audit plan, which includes FISMA, Auxiliary Organizations, Information Systems, Construction, Consultation, Investigations, Information Security, Off-campus Activities, and Emergency Preparedness.
  FISMA is the Financial Integrity and State Manager's Accountability Act of 1983 (FISMA). The Committee on Audit agenda states This act requires that state agencies establish and maintain a system of internal accounting and administrative control. To ensure that the agency fully complies with requirements, the head of each agency is required to prepare and submit a report on the adequacy of the systems of internal accounting and administrative control following the end of each odd-numbered fiscal year.

Links

• Resolutions from January 2009 CSU Board of Trustees [PDF]
• Agendas for January 2009 CSU Board of Trustees

CSUEU Toll-Free Fax Number

This was sent out by headquarters this afternoon:

This e-mail is being sent out to all CSUEU BOD members and CSUEU staff.

Please note for your use, directories, lists, etc.

CSUEU Toll Free Fax #: 866/977-7838

CSUEU support staff will be noting this on our website and directories. Thanks.

Updated to add: A followup email assures us that the old fax number, 916/319-4808, still works. You can use whichever number is more convenient for you.

Judge Rules Governor Can Impose Furlough Plan

A Sacramento judge has ruled that the governor can unilaterally order furloughs for state workers, without bargaining:

Marlette's ruling said the state's current budget crisis and lack of funds represented an emergency and the governor's order was reasonable and necessary under the circumstances.

The furlough plan does not apply to the CSU.

Links:

• Final ruling: Schwarzenegger can order two furlough days a month
• Scaned copy of tentative ruling (via Sacramento Bee) [image PDF]
• Furlough class heats up (Sacramento Bee)
• CSUEU President's message on state budget cuts (January 12, 2009) (CSUEU)
• CSUEU Message On Budget Cuts (November 2008) (Unit 9 News)
• Local 1000 Fights Governor's Furlough Plan (Unit 9 News)

Bargaining: Reopener Negotiations Continue, Full Contract Approaching

In case you haven't seen it, the first bargaining update of 2009 is on the CSUEU web site. We're including a copy here for your convenience:

This January 15 Contract Negotiations News, one in a series of updates, provides details about a recent contract negotiation meeting. Previous updates are available as PDFs on the lower right section of the Bargaining page.

Contract Negotiations News #1

REOPENER NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE
STATE BUDGET CRISIS UNRESOLVED

Reopener talks linked to the 2008-09 CSU budget began last May and are ongoing.

On January 8, 2009, the CSU sent CSUEU a written counter-proposal to the union’s November 2008 proposal, which, as outlined in the Contract Negotiations News of November 21, 2008, called for some compensation increase if either the CSU received money in excess of its mandatory costs or if any other union was able to negotiate salary increases for its members. In its counterproposal, CSU is proposing a zero percent increase, but will agree to reopen FY 2008/09 bargaining under certain limited circumstances: if another union receives a) a General Salary Increase, b) a Market Salary Increase or c) a Service Salary Increase. The CSUEU bargaining team will meet on January 21 to discuss how to respond to this CSU proposal.

Full contract negotiations

CSUEU is continuing with preparation of its opening bargaining proposal for full contract negotiations for FY 2009 and beyond. The CSUEU contract with CSU expires on June 30, 2009, and an initial bargaining proposal must be submitted by either CSUEU or the CSU by the end of January.

State Budget Update

There’s seemingly no end in sight to what is emerging as the biggest state budget crisis in history, with the legislature struggling to sign a 2008-09 state budget. The budget deficit is now projected to grow to $42 billion by June 30, 2010, if no action is taken. The governor and legislative leaders continue to have almost daily meetings in an effort to resolve this crisis. Meanwhile, the 2009-10 state budget was formally introduced on January 9, 2009, with State Finance Director Michael Genest having earlier introduced an outline of the proposal on New Year’s Eve. The governor is proposing to suspend the FY 2009 compact with the CSU, which means the CSU would Not receive the $217 million it had requested. Another 10 percent student fee hike is proposed, which would provide $130 million in gross revenue. After taking into account mandatory costs such as those in employee health and dental insurance premiums, utilities, and new space, there would be a net reduction of nearly $16 million in FY 2009.

Even though this represents a cut of less than one percent of CSU’s $2.9 billion budget, the CSU has already seen cuts of $500 million over the past six years and cannot easily withstand any further cuts. Other state agencies are facing far greater cuts.

Read the CSU’s analysis of proposed budget cuts contained in the governor’s 2009-10 budget proposal.

CSUEU and other unions will be looking closely at one of the Governor’s new proposals: shifting the administration of health care benefits from the California Public Employment Retirement System (CalPERS) to the State Department of Public Administration. The Governor believes this could save $132 million. Overlooked, however, is the fact that CalPERS administers health care benefits for nearly one million active and retired employees. They include not only state civil service employees, but also CSU employees and employees of hundreds of school districts and local governments. Opposition to this proposal is growing, and an initial meeting of a labor coalition will be held on January 16.

The CSU will be discussing its analysis of the Governor’s budget proposal at the next Board of Trustees meeting, taking place January 27-28, 2009.

Links

• Contract Negotiations News #1: January 15, 2009
  • Printable PDF version of Contract Negotiations News #1: January 15, 2009 [PDF]
• CSUEU Bargaining page
• CSU analysis of proposed 2009-10 budget cuts [PDF]

Temporary Staff Update

This went out Friday afternoon:

TO: CSUEU BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF

Please join me in welcoming back Malia Plummer, who will be working in our O Street office as temporary help.

Regards,

Phillip Coonley, Chief of Staff
CSUEU

Union Plus Scholarship Deadline January 31

Just a reminder: the deadline for applying for Union Plus scholarships is January 31, 2009.

SEIU members, as well as their spouses and dependent children, are eligible. Dependent children include foster children, step children, and any other child for whom the individual member provides greater than 50% of his or her support.

CSUEU is SEIU Local 2579. CSUEU members are SEIU members. Purchase of Union Plus program products is not required for scholarship eligibility.

From the Union Plus Scholarship page:

The scholarship program is open to students attending or planning to attend a college or university, a community college, or a technical college or trade school.

Applicants for scholarships are evaluated according to academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor.

Links

• Union Plus Scholarship Program
• Union Plus Scholarship Applications Coming September 8 (Unit 9 News)

SEIU Roundup

Some updates on what's been happening elsewhere in SEIU recently:

Local 1000 Fights Governor's Furlough Plan

SEIU Local 1000, the California State Employees Association (CSEA) affiliate which represents civil service employees, continues to fight the governor's plans to put state employees on unpaid furlough. The plan would put state employees on unpaid furlough two days per month beginning in February, resulting in a pay cut of about 10%.

Local 1000 has filed a lawsuit to block the furloughs, arguing the governor lacks the authority to unilaterally impose changes to state workers' pay and work hours. A Sacramento County Superior Court judge will hear arguments in the case on January 29. Local 1000 also filed an unfair practice charge with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). The governor's attorneys argue the court has no jurisdiction and that PERB should hear the case, not the court. PERB members are appointed by the governor.

Local 1000 has offered the state an alternate list of proposals it estimates would save the state $370 million over 2 years.

• Local 1000 fights governor’s demand for unpaid furloughs starting next month (SEIU Local 1000)
• Furlough talk is familiar – and scary – to state workers (Sacramento Bee)
• Governor orders state offices to close 2 days a month (Los Angeles Times)
• California offices to close first and third Fridays (Fresno Bee)
• PDF image scan of SEIU Local 1000 unfair practice charge
• SEIU Local 1000

Proposition 8 Challenge

More than 50 California labor organizations, including SEIU affiliate United Healthcare Workers (UHW), California Faculty Association (CFA), SEIU Local 1000, and the SEIU State Council, filed an amicus brief in support of the lawsuits challenging Proposition 8. CSUEU does not appear on the list of supporters, but is part of the SEIU California State Council.

• California labor unions unite to fight proposition 8 (UHW press release)

Re-unification with AFL-CIO?

An associate editor with The Atlantic reports Change to Win and AFL-CIO are discussing a merger. Change to Win is a coalition of labor unions, including SEIU, formed in 2005. SEIU disaffiliated from the AFL-CIO in 2005.

• Behind the Labor Merger Talks (Marc Ambinder blog – The Atlantic)

Local Split by SEIU, Members Call for Disaffiliation Vote

The international SEIU executive board voted to move 65,000 United Healthcare Workers (UHW) members out of UHW and into a new, soon-to-be-created SEIU local. SEIU will create the new mega-local by merging the former UHW members with locals from San Jose and Los Angeles. When a new local is created, that local's officers are appointed by SEIU headquarters, rather than elected by the membership.

In response to petitions from members, the UHW executive board has written to SEIU president Andy Stern requesting a vote of UHW's 150,000 members on whether to disaffiliate from SEIU. The members' petitions cite forced removal of 65,000 long-term care members from UHW, stifling of union members’ free speech rights, and Widespread corruption by Stern-appointed union leaders among their concerns. During recent UHW elections, board members ran unopposed, despite reported SEIU attempts to recruit and support other candidates.

• SEIU merger to create healthcare 'mega-local' in California (Los Angeles Times)
• Oakland Health care workers plan vote on split (San Francisco Chronicle)
• SEIU announced plans to form new union of health care workers (Sacramento Business Journal)
• Service Employees Vote to Split United Healthcare Workers-West, Members Call for Disaffiliation (Labor Notes)
• California SEIU Members to Form Nation's Largest Long Term Care Union (SEIU press release)
• UHW Members Call on SEIU to Schedule Disaffiliation Vote (UHW press release)
• UHW's letter to Stern regarding disaffiliation vote [PDF]
• United Healthcare Workers re-elect all statewide officers (UHW press release)

Governor's State of the State Address

Governor Schwarzenegger's 2009 State of the State Address will be webcast live today at 10 a.m. on the governor's site.

Local 1000 (Civil service employees) will be holding rallies and press conferences around the state at noon today to protest the governor's budget plans.

Links

• Governor's January 7 budget press conference text
• 2009 State of the State webcast

LRR Hejazi Back

This was sent out Tuesday evening:

TO: CSUEU BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF:

Effective today, Michael Hejazi is re-joining the CSUEU family and will be returning to his prior assignments, Sonoma, San Jose and Monterey Bay. Thank-you Russell Kilday-Hicks and the staff who assisted with cases during his absence. Welcome back, Michael.

Effective January 30, 2009, Alex Velasco will be returning to the membership department. Thank-you Alex for your hard work for our affiliate.

Phillip Coonley, Chief of Staff
California State University Employees Union (CSUEU)

Links:

• Staffing Update (Unit 9 News)
• Staff Update: Michael Hejazi (Unit 9 News)
• Staff Update: Temp Job Posted, Work Assigned (Unit 9 News)
• Job Posting for Temporary LRR Position (Unit 9 News)
• Staff Contract Available (Unit 9 News)