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California and CSU Budget
The State of California is not any closer to a budget for Fiscal Year 2009-2010, which officially began today. Rumors of IOUs to be distributed to state employees have been circulating. Please keep in mind that Education workers have their salaries protected under Title V, so while our brothers and sisters throughout the state may be subject to more harsh attacks and reductions by the Governor, we will still receive our paychecks. Each day of delay by the legislature and the Governor to resolve the budget crisis will cost California state programs further budget cuts. On a personal note, this high speed game of chicken between the Governor and the California Legislature is not helping us figure out where we have to go to survive this budget crisis. The biggest difficulty we have for resolving the CSU Budget crisis is getting our questions answered.
Here’s a link to the CSUEU Budget Central website:
· http://www.csueu.org/Home/StateandCSUBudgetCentral/tabid/902/Default.aspx
Furlough Bargaining and Voting
The CSUEU and CSU have officially entered bargaining for furloughs as an option to mitigate layoffs. The newly elected bargaining team took the advisory vote to heart and are exploring this option with the CSU. I have forwarded all your questions to CSUEU. These excellent questions and ideas will be used as part of the bargaining process. I am proud to say that the CSUEU Board of Directors voted this weekend to require any side letter generated by this furlough bargaining effort to be ratified by our membership using a special process. This special process will require us to hold a meeting for discussion and voting within a week of an agreement being reached, similar to the previous advisory vote. We will make sure to have more food for this important meeting.
CSUEU received some criticism from other groups and our own membership on “rushing” to choose furloughs. The magnitude of the budget cuts have fluctuated from three to six percent in January 2009 to an astounding 14% after the May 19th Special Election. Chapter 322 believes we have had the best possible reaction to a desperate situation. We have ensured that the members were as informed as possible throughout the process and that our members will have the right to vote on anything bargained by the CSU and CSUEU to help close the budget gaps. Remember, members will be able to vote the proposal either up or down before anything is agreed to between the CSUEU and CSU.
We have provided links to other Union responses for comparison here:
· CFA - http://www.calfac.org/allpdf/newsreleas/2009_pressrel/PR_063009_FurloughResponse.pdf
· SETC - http://www.setc-united.org/CSUHome.htm#Layoffs
· APC – has only sent out a response via email, although I have attached it to this email.
Here is a link to the CSUEU Furloughs FAQ:
· Furloughs FAQ - http://www.csueu.org/Home/StateandCSUBudgetCentral/FurloughsFAQ/tabid/928/Default.aspx
Statewide Elections
This past weekend was statewide elections for the statewide officers and the Bargaining Unit Councils, who will guide CSUEU through the next two years.
Results of June 28, 2009, Statewide Elections
President
Pat Gantt, CSU Chico
VP Finance
Loretta Seva'aetasi, San Francisco State
VP Organizing
Ronnie Grant, CSU Northridge
VP Representation
Russell Kilday-Hicks, San Francisco State
Bargaining Unit 2
Chair: Tessy Reese, San Diego
Vice Chair: Pam Robertson, Sacramento
At-Large: Vicki Baingul, San Francisco
Lori Williams, SLO
Kathleen Cole, San Bernardino
Lisa Bush, Los Angeles
Lynn Barba, Fullerton
Corina Carpiet, Long Beach
Bargaining Unit 5
Chair: Sharon Cunningham, San Diego
Vice Chair: Richard Berry, San Bernardino
At-Large: Michael Chavez, Stanislaus
Dan Williams, SLO
John Adame, Bakersfield
Angel Melendez, Fresno
Jerry Saner, Humboldt
Bargaining Unit 7
Chair: Annel Martin
Vice Chair: Michael Brandt
At-Large: Linda Nunez, Los Angeles
Rocky Sanchez, Pomona
April Webster, San Diego
Gilbert Villareal, San Jose
George Ball, Monterey Bay
Dawn McCulley, Stanislaus
Bargaining Unit 9
Chair: Rich McGee, San Bernardino
Vice Chair: Alisandra Brewer, Sonoma
At-Large: Stephen Tillinghast, Humboldt
Michael Reeder, Fullerton
Roy Park, Channel Islands
Matthew Black, Long Beach
Gus Leonard, Monterey Bay
Christina Valero, San Francisco
Congratulations to both George Ball and Gus Leonard for being elected to the statewide Bargaining Unit councils!
All committee assignments expired at Noon on Sunday. |
