Anonymous said...
I wish CUE would respond to some of these post. Let us know what they are thinking.
Friday, July 17, 2009 9:36:00 AM
I am the staff member in San Francisco who administers this Blog. I can't answer every post, plus it's confusing when everyone is Anonymous, as well as suggesting how intimidated UC employees are. [My comments are bracketed.]
Below are some representative comments. Thank you for the many encouraging words. We also thank those who voice their objections. They seem to vary from CUE should do nothing to why doesn't CUE do something? Furloughs were proposed in a letter received by CUE Friday afternoon, July 17th. Details available at: this location.
UC's letter stated, "If the scenarios listed do not represent a plan you wish to agree upon, the University is prepared to meet with you regarding any alternate plans you propose that will yield the same or similar cash savings as the Salary Reduction and Furlough Plan adopted by The Regents." So they invited discussion. CUE is not advocating lay-offs, just negotiating terms. You can tell it's real because they capitalized "The."
ANONYMOUS
I can't believe that we are all standing here somehow dumbfounded that there are going to be pay cuts. I think we all need a reality check. The economy is in shambles and we as University employees are not immune. Do I want a pay cut? no. However, if I have to choose between watching a peer loose their jobs or take a 4% furlough. I, without a moment of hesitation say take the furlough.
We are all extremely lucky to work for an organization that gives us full benefits, comprehensive retirement and actually cares to ask us what are opinions are about pay cuts. I hate that our union is spreading propagandist rhetoric about millions of dollars the University is somehow hiding from us. [That is not progaganda. It is a 5.5 BILLION DOLLAR emergency fund. UC does not deny having it, they just won't say what they consider an emergency.]
The University isn't some evil big box corporation that takes pleasure in hurting their employees. I agree that our wages are not always comparable for the work that we do, but these are not exactly times to be living high on hog. It's going to hurt us all, but not as much as it will those that will loose their jobs if we don't follow status quo and take the furloughs.
[In good economic times, the University underpaid employees compared to equivalent institutions. You receive all those benefits because the union protects them for you.]
Thursday, July 16, 2009 3:03:00 PM
Anonymous said...
I say let the cue members vote on what to do. Its our jobs that are on the line. I need my job! Please cue stay out of it!
[UC invited CUE and the other unions to offer alternate proposals. No one is refusing furloughs outright. Read their letter to CUE for details.]
Thursday, July 16, 2009 3:07:00 PM
Blogger diana said...
Oh, absolutely, I think we should just roll over and play dead. And while we are at it, we can also thank UC for all the abuse they can heap on us. "More, please..."
Most of us are already on a tight budget due to the "generosity" of the UC system; what are we to do now? I pity the single parents out there, those with ongoing medical problems and those whose spouse has been laid off... Pitch a tent, perhaps, at 160 Woodmont Way. [Yudof's rent-free house.]
Thursday, July 16, 2009 3:11:00 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Go with the UC Regents Plan. Our jobs, benefits and retirement may be at stake. The State of California has to make cuts somewhere. This proposal seems fair and equitable as tiered. Vote YES on the proposed UC plan. CUE member.
[UC is not part of the state government. The state funds only about 13% of the University. The plan is President Yudof's, not the Regents'. They delegated their authority to him during the so-called emergency.]
Thursday, July 16, 2009 3:13:00 PM
Amen Anonymous!!! (3:03:00 PM timestamp)
Agree to the furloughs. Cue stay out.
Thursday, July 16, 2009 3:16:00 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...
+1 with furlough over potentially being laid off. I like my benefits and they are not being affected—just the unpaid days off. The world is not perfect and these are even more imperfect times. I hope CUE does not drag this out and threaten any of its members' futures.
[PLEASE NOTE: Benefits are being negotiated for the contract replacing the one that expired on October 10, 2008. UC wants to chip away at benefits, too, not just salaries.]
BL
Thursday, July 16, 2009 3:16:00 PM
Anonymous said
I vote NO to accepting the Regents' proposal. WHY IS THIS THE ONLY OPTION BEING PRESENTED? When the UC system had the money, we didn't receive merit nor cost of living increases, and thus we are already so far behind in pay as it is. We were always told they couldn't afford to give us increases. Yet, we watched the lavish wasteful spending (and it continues-see the comment re the $50K party after the Regents met). When Yudof was appointed, he received an annual base salary of $591,084, supplemental pension funding of $228,00 in 2008-09, a yearly automobile allowance of $8,916, university provided housing, funds for entertainment, etc., etc. Have any of these items been cut? WE NEED TO TELL THEM WE CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE THE CUTS. If they lay us all off as threatened, just who will do our jobs?
[CUE is preparing a counter-proposal. See the next post on executive raises and perks.]
Friday, July 17, 2009 7:54:00 AM
Anonymous Anonymous said...
I would like to see Cue post the bonus amounts that the managers get for laying us off (if that's the case)
[Bonuses for lay-offs is conjecture, but there have been many executive hires, raises and perks approved by the Regents, some as recently as July 16th, 2009. Local 6 posted them on our web site at Sharing the Pain?. They are public knowledge.]
Friday, July 17, 2009 7:57:00 AM
Anonymous Anonymous said...
And a union is only as strong as its membership. If you aren't currently a dues-paying member of CUE, I encourage you to join today.
There is nothing the university would like more is to divide and conquer. And it is in times like this that they are likely to succeed.
Solidarity forever, because the Union makes us strong!
[Couldn't have put it better. Unlike UC, CUE is a democratic organization. Participate to have an impact!]
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:56:00 PM
Anonymous said
I imagine a good number of anti-CUE comments could be from non-CUE members (management perhaps? Specialists analysts supervisors etc) let us not be too discouraged. It is human nature to be jealous and are probably envious of our union protection. We should be standing up for cue at a time like this.
[Anyone can comment on the blog anonymously.]
In solidarity!
Anon AA II
Friday, July 17, 2009 5:10:00 PM
Anonymous said
Is it possible to oust a union?? If so, sign me up!
UCSD
I agree! What a waste of money for dues! Has anyone noticed that the website has not been updated for about 5 years?
[The statewide web site has been updated with the latest bargaining information. If you are dissatisfied with CUE, become an active member. Work for change.]
Friday, July 17, 2009 5:19:00 PM
[Thanks again for your comments. Those received before the July Regents meeting were submitted to the Regents. — gtutin@cueunion.org.]
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Latest on Regents
Keep up-to-date at our News page, which now has links to coverage by CUE and public sources.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
FURLOUGHS, PAY CUTS - Your thoughts?
CUE is requesting member comments on Yudof's proposed furlough and 8% pay cut proposals. We will pass your remarks on to the Regents, who are meeting at Mission Bay, San Francisco mid-July.
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