Budget Update:
Governor Brown signed the California State Budget for the
2011-2012 fiscal year. Without Republican support to temporarily
maintain current tax rates, the state sacrificed $10 billion in
anticipated revenue for the year. As a result of this budget package,
the California State University system was cut $150 million in
addition to the $500 million cut in the Governor's January budget
proposal. This cut impacts us as academic student employees in a
number of ways.
Tuition hikes: On July 12th, the Board of Trustees will likely approve
an additional 12% in tuition increases. Compounded with the
recently-passed 10% increase, tuition for fall 2011 would be 23.2%
higher than in spring 2010 (at $4,884, this is more than three times
what CSU charged 10 years ago).
Reduced student enrollment: The student body will be reduced by 2.4%
(over 8,000 students).
Cuts to faculty and staff: With faculty and staff reductions above
9%, there will be less diversity of course offerings and fewer
services available to us and our students.
Cuts to CalGrants: The California Student Aid Commission expects to
eliminate assistance to 12,920 students through more restrictive
income and asset ceilings and financial-need requirements.
More cuts to come? If state income falls too far below current
projections, a legal "trigger" will blast away another $100 million
from the CSU budget before the spring 2012 semester.
Taking action to support higher education!
For every dollar the state invests in the CSU, it realizes a return of
$5.43. So, the $17.48 per person cut from state-university funding
will cost $3.5 trillion in lost revenues. Meanwhile, a Public Policy
Institute of California report shows that current
public-higher-education funding will be insufficient to provide even a
third of the college-educated workforce which will be needed by 2025.
Most people believe in the idea of public education, but we need to
take action as a group to make it strong. There are a number of ways
to participate in our union’s political program -
Build our power: Work with us to make sure everyone in your lab,
department, or tutoring center is signed up as a member of the union.
Raise your voice: Sign on to our letter to our elected representatives
encouraging them to buy out the fee increases and raise revenue from
those who can afford it, not students and workers. Join our
delegations to trustee meetings and campus actions.
Chip in for justice: Make a small monthly donation to our political
fund (called VCAP, “voluntary community action program”).
And more! We’ll keep you posted on dates and times of upcoming campus
organizing meetings and other ways you can give input and get
involved.
For more info or to participate in any of these things now, contact us
at (916) 498-8452.
In Solidarity,
UAW 4123 Executive Board
P.S. Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UAWLocal4123
Membership Update:
The State Budget deadline is June 15th, three weeks from now.
With summer break starting for many of us, this is the time we must
push to pass a fair budget!
The California State Legislature has already cut for the coming year
five hundred million dollars from CSU system funding – and there is
the very real risk that, if the legislature does not take action to
temporarily extend current tax rates until citizens can vote on them,
cuts to the CSU could double to a billion dollars, which is 36% of the
entire funding the CSU received from the state in the 2010-2011 year.
While the 10% fee increase which the University Trustees previously
approved is in effect starting this Summer, the Trustees will vote in
July whether to raise fees an additional 32% for Fall 2011 (for a
compounded increase of 45% since Spring); already there are plans to
lay off more professors, freeze enrollment, and reduce class offerings
if the legislature does not act. In the broader education system,
119,000 jobs would be lost in a budget based on the planned reduction
to state tax rates; in some school districts, students would be packed
to 40 per class.
To help us save educational funding and stop the CSU's crushing tuition
hikes, a community group called Stand Up for California and our union
allies around the state are holding phonebanks asking voters whose
representatives are on the fence to stand for the strong educational system
our state needs to thrive in the new global economy. In some locations food
will be provided, and in some areas there will be additional events such as
rallies and neighborhood canvassing; lawn signs may also be available for
those who would like them. Please set aside a few hours to help put our
state back on the right track, and ask your friends and family, your
colleagues and community members, to do the same. Find a location
near you below. (Notification of additional locations may follow.)
In Solidarity,
UAW 4123 Executive Board
CHULA VISTA: Veteran's Home, 700 East Maples Court, 11am-7pm, Wed 5/25
& Thurs 5/26
DIAMOND BAR: Oak Tree, 990 North Diamond Bar Blvd, 11am-7pm Mondays
DUBLIN: IBEW 595, 6250 Village Parkway, 94568; 5-8pm June 15
EL CAJON: Hometown Buffet, 390 West Main St, 92020; 5:30-7:30pm Thurs June 9th
EL CENTRO: La Bella's Pizzeria, 601 W Main St (6th St side), Downtown,
5:30-7:30 Wednesdays
FAIRFIELD: SEIU 1021, 2300 Boynton Ave #200, 5:30-8pm Tuesdays and Thursdays
FOSTER CITY: Phonebanks at Central Labor Council - 1153 Chess Drive,
Tuesdays - 5/31, 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28 from 5:30pm-8:30pm
FRESNO: SEIU 521, 528 E Pine Ave, 5:30-8:30pm Tuesdays and Thursdays
HIGHLAND: Open Kitchen Buffet (Near Patton Hospital), 4160 Highland
Ave #E, 11am-3:30pm Tuesdays & Thursdays
LOS ANGELES: SEIU 1000, 4221 Wilshire Blvd #388, 5-8pm Mondays thru Thursdays
LOS ANGELES: SEIU 99, 2724 West 8th St, 5-8pm Mondays thru Thursdays
MIRA MESA: Hometown Buffet, 10660 Camino Ruiz, 92126; 5:30-7:30 Thurs
5/26 & 6/23
MODESTO: Phonebanks at NORTH VALLEY LABOR FED OFFICE - 538 MCHENRY,
Suite C, 4:30 - 7:30 P.M. TUESDAY/THURSDAY NIGHTS; Precinct Walk June 11.
NAPA: Democratic Party HQ, 1416 Second St (between School & Franklin),
Tuesdays 5:30-8pm
NORCO: Bob's Big Boy, 3521 Hamner Ave, 4-7pm Tuesdays
OAKLAND: SEIU Local 1000 Office, 1433 Webster Street; 5:30-8 pm
Mondays and Wednesdays
OTAY MESA: Home Town Buffet, 930 Dennery Rd, 92154; 5-7:30pm Tuesday
5/31 (Child Care Available)
RANCHO CORDOVA: Public Library, 9845 Folsom Blvd, 5:30-8:30 Wednesday, May 25th
RANCHO CUCAMONGA: Rallies at Senator Bob Dutton's office every Friday
from 1pm - 2:30. 8577 Haven Avenue, Suite 210, 91730. Call for more
info (909) 825-7871
RANCHO CUCAMONGA: SEIU 1000, 10600 Trademark Parkway N, Ste 405; 5-8pm
Tuesdays and Thursdays
RIVERSIDE: Phonebanks at 1074 E La Cadena Dr # 1, Riverside, CA
92507-8601. Call for times (909) 825-7871
SACRAMENTO: Phonebanks at Central Labor Council, 2840 El Centro Road,
Suite 111; 5-8:30pm Sunday through Thursday. For more info, please
contact Zak Ford at 916-927-9772 or zak@sacramentolabor.org
SACRAMENTO: SEIU 1000, 1325 S St, 95811, 5:30-8pm Mondays-Thursdays
(Child Care available on Thursdays)
SALINAS: CLC, 931 E. Market Street, 93905; Wednesdays 5:30-8pm
SAN DIEGO: Phonebanks at Labor Council, 3737 Camino del Rio South,
Suite 403, 92108; 5-8 p.m. every MONDAY and TUESDAY through June 30
*Except Memorial Day; Dinner is provided, please contact Anthony at
(619) 228-8101 x6 to RSVP
SAN DIEGO: SEIU 1000, 3456 Camino Del Rio N, Ste 104; 5-7:30pm June 2nd.
SAN FRANCISCO: UHW Office, 1338 Mission Street, Tuesdays 5:30-8 pm
SAN JOSE: Phonebanks 5:30pm to 8:30pm Tuesdays and Thursdays (till end
of June); the Labor Temple 2102 Almaden Rd. Suite 105, 95125
SAN JOSE: SEIU 521, 2302 Zanker Rd, 5:30-8pm Tuesdays
SAN MARCOS: Acapulco Mexican Restaurant, 1020 West San Marcos Blvd
#50, 92078; Thurs June 16, 5:30-7:30pm
SAN MATEO: Phonebanks at IBEW 617 - 1701 Leslie Street, Wednesdays -
6/1, 6/15, 6/29 and Thursdays - 5/26, 6/9, 6/23 from
5:30pm-8:30pm
SANTA ANA: Hometown Buffet, 1008 East 17th St, 92701; 5:30-7:30 Wednesdays
SANTA ROSA: SEIU 1000, 555 Fifth St. 3rd Floor (corner of Mendocino
Ave) Thursdays 5:30-8pm
STOCKTON: Phonebanks at CLC OFFICE - 235 NORTH SAN JOAQUIN STREET,
5:00 - 7:30 TUESDAY/THURSDAY NIGHTS
VISALIA: 1811 Sunnyside Ave Tuesdays and Thursdays *Time Unknown*
Membership Update: February 2011
Dear Members,
Recently Governor Brown released his proposed budget for 2011/12. In
the proposal, the Governor outlines a massive cut to higher education:
CSU alone will, if the budget is approved, experience a $500 million
cut. Click here to view the proposed higher education budget: http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/pdf/BudgetSummary/HigherEducation.pdf.
With a 10% fee increase already on the horizon for this academic year,
it is more important than ever to tell the Governor, the legislature,
and administrators to expand funding to higher education, roll back
fee increases, and raise revenue from those who can most afford it,
not students and workers. It will only be through active
participation in advocating for reform of revenue generation and
allocation policies—by combining our voices as one—that we will be
able to have an impact.
As a Union of workers affected by these fee hikes and funding cuts, we
call on our members to take part in both a voter registration drive
and a letter writing campaign to warn the legislature in Sacramento
against more cuts and fee increases. We are putting copies of the
letter and instructions for its mailing on our website, as well as
making it available through your local union representative on campus. We ask that you join us at this important time, and do your part to
make our voices heard.
If you would like to take an active role in promoting this letter
campaign and voter registration drive, please contact the Union at
(916) 498-8452 or email us at union@uaw123.org.
In Solidarity,
UAW 4123 Executive Board
Bargaining Update
Dear Members,
Great news! On November 10th, 2010 the Board of Trustees voted and ratified our new contract. This contract represents a historic increase of rights and protections for Academic Student Employees at CSU. The Executive Board would like to thank each member and activist who played a role in securing these new rights and protections.
A PDF copy of the contract will be posted on the website soon.
In Solidarity,
UAW 4123 Executive Board
TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED ON NEW CONTRACT FOR TAs, GAs AND ISAs!
October 20, 2010
Dear UAW 4123 Members:
After a prolonged and challenging round of contract negotiations between UAW and CSU, we have finally reached agreement on a second contract with the University. We were successful in expanding a number of rights and protections in the contract. However, the neutral fact finder made the unfortunate recommendation to further delay a fee waiver benefit because of the ongoing state budget crisis. Despite this set-back on the fee waiver issue, on balance the new contract makes critical progress on advancing our rights as employees at CSU. Click here or see below for a detailed summary of our tentative agreement with CSU: http://www.uaw4123.org/news/bargaining.php
As your bargaining committee, we strongly recommend ratification of this agreement. It is the product of a long struggle to improve working conditions at CSU, and to improve the quality of instruction for hundreds of thousands of students.
We encourage you to take the time to review the summary and tentative agreement, to contact us to ask us questions, and to go vote to ratify the agreement.
There will be a meeting on each campus where UAW members can come, ask questions about the tentative agreement, and vote. A polling station will also open so those who cannot attend the meeting can also vote to ratify the contract. Click here for ratification meeting information: http://www.uaw4123.org/elections/upcoming.php This will be updated as meetings are scheduled.
Any UAW 4123 member may vote in the ratification vote. For TAs, GAs and ISAs who are not already members, membership will be available at the ballot box. There are no proxy or absentee ballots.
As throughout the process of bargaining the contract, the more members who participate, the stronger the message to CSU about academic student employees’ collective power and mobilization.
See you at the polls!
In Solidarity,
UAW 4123 Bargaining Team
Summary of Tentative Agreement
Wednesday, October 20, 2010 our Bargaining Committee reached tentative agreement with the university on a contract to run from ratification through September 30, 2013. The tentative agreement expands our rights and protections and provides new ones in the following ways:
- Improved Workload Protections: When a position is offered you, the job description will include a detailed explanation of how the supervisor expects you to spend your assigned hours. This will reduce the likelihood that you will be asked to work more hours than you are paid for. It also strengthens our tools for making sure all TAs, GAs and ISAs get paid for all hours worked.
- Improved Job Security: Once you accept an appointment you have been offered, if the position is eliminated, the university will either put you in another job with the same pay or will pay you the agreed salary without reassigning you. This way you will be certain of your earnings for the period of the appointment and can count on financial stability.
- Improved Evaluation Rights: Whenever a supervisor is going to evaluate your job performance, you will have the right to give input before the report is filed. This will make the evaluation process more democratic and participatory.
- Broader Employment Opportunities: If you are enrolled in an interdisciplinary degree program, you will be eligible to TA in any of the departments within the program. This expands employment opportunities for students working in exciting, new multi-disciplinary fields of study.
- Improved Non-Discrimination Protections: Specifically, the new contract contains language prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression. This language contributes to the growing national movement to expand and improve the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).
- New Employment Rights: Tutors who work off campus through the university will now receive the same contractual rights and benefits—including salary increases—as those who work on campus.
- More and Better Opportunities to Hear From Your Union: Employee Orientations will be available to all new Academic Student Employees so that employees learn of their rights and how to stand up for them.
Fee Waiver Update: As many of you already know, the Union and the University have been anticipating the report of a neutral fact finder in order to resolve our contract dispute. Prior to receiving the report, the Bargaining Team committed to honor the fact finder’s recommendation on the issue of fee waivers. Unfortunately, after weighing the impact of the California state budget crisis and the ongoing fiscal strain imposed on CSU, the fact finder recommended re-negotiating a fee waiver in the future, despite the fact that Academic Student Employees experienced unequal cuts in compensation.
This is difficult news, but news that we can change going forward. As public sector employees, who are funded by the state, it is up to us, as voters and participants in democracy, to change how California generates and distributes revenue – including revenue for the CSU. Without an active, mobilized effort on our part as members to engage in the state economic and political processes, it will be difficult to win a fee waiver.
There are things we can do right now to change the state of higher education in California:
Vote for the candidates and propositions we have endorsed in the November 2nd election, especially Prop 25, which would simplify the budget process and help bring an end to California’s perpetually late budgets, and ask your friends and family to do the same.
Contact the Union to get involved in Get-Out-The-Vote activities such as phonebanking and precinct walking.
Contact the Union to become a leader in your department or campus.
Our democratic participation in the Golden State is critical not just to improving public higher education and our situation as public university employees but to achieving ample opportunity for ourselves, our community, and to California.
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