LEGISLATURE SUPPORTS FEE WAIVER AND CRITICIZES CSU EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

December 11, 2008

Yesterday afternoon, CSU administrators faced bipartisan criticism in Sacramento.  Democratic and Republican members of the Senate Budget Sub-committee on Education hammered CSU for the University’s recent, irresponsible decision to give executives lavish compensation increases (to see the original story on executive salary increases, click here or go to http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/19/BAJ7147DGN.DTL 
Senator Gloria Romero also called CSU on the rug over the fact that UC gives fee waivers to academic student employees, while CSU continues to refuse to agree to a fee waiver for ASEs at CSU. Watch the video go to http://www.calchannel.com/MEDIA/1210B.asx (The portion about CSU Funding begins at 2 hours and 27 minutes).

Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg also re-affirmed his commitment to helping CSU and UAW reach agreement over the fee waiver dispute.

UAW members from around the state gave testimony at the hearing, giving firsthand accounts of how CSU’s unlawful bargaining and failure to reach agreement on a fee waiver has negatively impacted ASEs.  Following the hearing, legislators met with UAW members to share their commitment to fighting for a fee waiver for ASEs, and share their concern over the hypocrisy of increasing executive salaries 19% when ASEs’ wages have been cut, on average, 7%. (Watch at http://www.calchannel.com/MEDIA/1210B.asx at 2 hours 54 minutes)

Legislators’ solidarity with the UAW is a positive and helpful sign that with the assistance of Senator Steinberg, UAW and CSU can reach agreement on a fee waiver in the near future.

HOWEVER: legislative involvement is no guarantee that CSU will bargain lawfully, or that we will reach agreement with the University.  Members should remain prepared to strike in the event that CSU continues to bargain unlawfully.  We will keep you updated as things progress in Sacramento.

To get involved, or to help continue keeping your fellow ASEs mobilized for a potential unfair labor practice strike, reply to this email or call the statewide office at (916) 498 8452.

In Solidarity,
UAW 4123 Bargaining Team

December 9, 2008
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg to Meet with UAW and CSU to Help Resolve Contract Dispute Over Fee Waivers - UAW Agrees to Postpone Strike

Contact: Scott Bailey Clifthorne, 415-810-0652 

(CALIFORNIA) – California Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg will sit down with UAW Local 4123 and the California State University in an effort to reach resolution on their contract dispute.  The dispute is centered around a fee waiver benefit for academic student employees.  UAW Local 4123 has agreed to postpone its strike, originally scheduled to begin at 7 AM, December 10, pending these meetings with the University and Senate President Pro Tempore Steinberg.

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Strike Locations (Please meet at 7am Wednesday at the locations listed below for deployment and supplies)

Channel Islands
In the Bell Tower East, in the Lounge, next to the vending machines

Chico
West Central Campus, on the path by Meriam Library, between Glenn
Hall and Siskiyou Hall

Dominguez Hills
Student Union, outside in front, across from the Social and Behavioral Sciences
Buildings

East Bay
Library Courtyard, Westside, Outside Entrance to Student Affairs

Fresno
In the Free Speech Area near the fountain

Fullerton
In the Campus Quad, near McCarthy Hall

Humboldt
In the quad, in front of the University Center

Long Beach
In front of Brotman Hall, near the fountain

Maritime Academy
In the Quad near the Library

Monterey Bay
In front of the Dining Commons (Building 16)

Northridge
Outside of Manzanita Hall near Santa Susanna Hall

Pomona
Between Building 3 and Building 5, on the ground floor walkway

Sacramento
Outside the front of Lassen Hall, on the main path near the Roundhouse

San Bernardino
Outside of the Pfau Library

San Diego
Aztec Center, on walkway, between Aztec Cafe and box office

San Francisco
Plaza outside Cesar Chavez Student Center

San Jose
In front of Spartan Bookstore

San Luis Obispo
In front of El Corral Bookstore

San Marcos
In Founders Plaza, next to the Coffee Shop

Sonoma
Schulz Information Center (Library), outside on east-facing patio

Stanislaus
Library, inside on the first floor, in the foyer outside the tutoring center

**MEMBERS: SIGN THE PUBLIC STATEMENT NOW!**

3,480 UAW MEMBERS CALL ON CSU TO BARGAIN FAIRLY, PROVIDE FEE WAIVER

Dear Chancellor Reed:

We, a majority of the members of UAW Local 4123 demand that CSU provide a fee waiver to Teaching Associates, Graduate Assistants and Instructional Student Assistants immediately. State University and Campus Fees at CSU continue to skyrocket, increasing 76% over 5 years. Most TAs, GAs and ISAs pay a majority of their wages back to CSU in fees.

The fee waiver is a standard benefit for Academic Student Employees across the country, including at University of California.

Rather than provide the fee waiver to TAs, GAs and ISAs—who provide much of the quality face-to-face education that makes CSU a great university, CSU has stalled and engaged in other bad-faith practices.

Further delay by the administration risks provoking a disruption of labor peace at CSU. We urge you to provide the fee waiver immediately.

Sincerely,

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