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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277 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 277 of 277Thanks to the CUE stance I am now going to have to be temporarily laid off for two blocks of 5 at least days rather then a day here and there that a furlough would have brought. Thanks for playing hardball with our pay checks, appreciate it!
How is UC supposed to guarantee no lay offs if we accept the furloughs? Do you think they did that with non-represented employees? No they didn't. Why are we any different than unrepresented staff. Now even if I don't get issued a lay off notice I am going to get screwed come winter when I am forced to take all of winter break off. CUE is a pain in my ass!
What I'm trying to point out is that if the pay cuts are accepted and UC decides to lay off anyway, you're still going to be screwed. And since your unemployment benefits will be based on a lower rate of pay, you might be screwed even worse than if you take the layoff now. Not to mention the coworkers left behind who will have to absorb your work, at *their* lower rate of pay.
Given all that, there is no good reason that CUE should accept the cuts. I'd gladly accept them with an assurance that nobody would be laid off; I don't see a benefit in postponing an inevitable layoff by 6 months, during which we all work for a lower rate. That just doesn't make sense.
And all I'm trying to say is I don't want to be in the warfare between CUE and UC. I don't like the representation I'm given with this "union". I want out from under CUE and their crap bargaining. Why should I be forced to accept their representation? Would be nice to get merit increases based on on my performance like my non-represented co-workers do.
What happened to the poll CUE put out a few weeks ago? How come we haven't seen the results of what members feel? Probably because the majority feels that they should accept the furloughs and that doesn't align with their agenda. So basically what we say doesn't matter. They just want to constantly harrass.
As a matter of fact, it was UPTE and not CUE that called for the vote of no-confidence. And your own emotional state seems pretty elevated, dayweeks; I'm not sure I trust you to characterize others as "rage-a-holics". Pull the beam out of your own eye, etc.
According to an FAQ point on the UC Budget Web site, the furlough plan will garner for UC an estimated $515 million in savings (remember, the budget shortfall is $800 million). But only $184 million of that is being used towards salaries. The rest is going to "other" things.
My point is that UCOP has never intended to save everyone's job. The downsizing of the work force is intentional. There were layoffs before the furlough plan and there will be layoffs after it.
UC is happy to make it look as though the problem is with unions as that is another part of their agenda -- union busting.
Screwed wrote: Thanks to the CUE stance I am now going to have to be temporarily laid off for two blocks of 5 at least days rather then a day here and there that a furlough would have brought. Thanks for playing hardball with our pay checks, appreciate it
Really? Because at UC Berkeley, 11 of the furlough dates have been set for us (extended winter and spring break) and only the the two days (for those of us with 13 days) are floating.
Are you sure you were going to be able to take them all as floating days?
FURLOUGH SAVINGS
I’ve read that the furlough plan yields much more than $184 million. Please clarify.
Yes, savings from the furlough plan will total more than $184 million. When all UC fund sources are taken into account (UC general funds, auxiliary enterprises, contracts and grants and medical center revenues) the furlough plan yields approximately $515 million.
It is important to note that while the general fund savings of $184 million will be applied directly to the state budget cuts, salary savings generated from grants and contracts must be redeployed within the scope of each specific grant or contract. The additional dollars resulting from the salary reductions in other non-general fund sources will be used to help offset other cost increases and revenue shortfalls in those areas, such as rising costs of technology, utilities and health benefits as well as revenue shortfalls such as cuts in Medi-Cal payments to UC medical centers. To the greatest extent possible, campuses will seek to deploy savings generated from non-general fund sources strategically to address their specific needs and to address the balance of the $813 million state funding shortfall after savings from furloughs/salary reductions are taken into account, consistent with any restrictions on those fund sources. http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/budget/?page_id=87
Really? Because at UC Berkeley, 11 of the furlough dates have been set for us (extended winter and spring break) and only the the two days (for those of us with 13 days) are floating.
Are you sure you were going to be able to take them all as floating days?
If the union signs on to the furlough program then the days will be set as you stated above. If not then we will get the lay offs as the UC has announced.Thus the 5 days blocks that the other person was talking about
To Palaeologos - You are uninformed. Unemployment benefits are not based on your rate of pay.
I for one want to keep my job and lose CUE. I never wanted to be a CUE member in the first place. If not being a member means I have to pay my "fair share" fees, then that's fine. But I should have the right to decide whether or not I want to be a represented employee.
Unintentionally Represented : benefits are based on earnings by quarter. They will take the highest quarter as the benchmark for benefits, so unless layoffs don't start until a year after cuts are implemented, then very likely the cuts won't affect benefits.
In any case, you're willing to trade what little advantage we have for a false sense of security. Unless you're pretty high up on the seniority list, you're in danger of a layoff whether we accept the cuts or not.
Palaeologos - I have no false sense of security. I was delighted to be hired by UC in the past year. My husband lost his job six months ago and we are dependent upon my job and benefits.
Regarding your comments about unemployment benefits - my mistake. I thought you were referring to EDD.
My point, however, is that not everyone wants to be represented. I don't and yet I have to live with the fallout from the stalemate between CUE and UC. My job is on the chopping block because of the position of a union I never wanted to join.
You job is not on the line because there is a union. Your job is on the line because Yudof and UCOP have used the decrease in state funding to ram through some radical changes in the way UC functions.
I've worked on the campus 25 years and that's long enough to have known the workers who were here when there was no union. It was not the great place to work that it has been (at least until the past couple of years).
And if you lose your job, it is not because the unions (plural) --and now the faculty are getting more involved, too, as they see what is really going on, are pushing back against UCOP.
The furlough/pay cut is garnering UC over $500 million dollars yet they are only applying just under $200 million to the over $800 million decrease in state funds. UCOP could save all our jobs if they wanted to. But they don't. Get involved. Read the information on sites like http://utotherescue.blogspot.com/ which is run by UCSB English Professor Chris Newfield or UPTE http://www.upte.org/ or UC AFT http://berkeleyaft.org/
As people learn more about what Yudof has done, they are getting "fired up and ready to go."
I know I am
PRESS RELEASE For immediate release
September 3, 2009
CONTACT:
(SF) Sanjay Garla, 415‐747‐2328, sanjay@garla.net
Jelger Kalmijn, UCSD Staff Research Associate, UPTE‐CWA President,
(SD): 619‐370‐3753
UC Employees Overwhelmingly Reject
President Mark Yudof
Thousands participated in the Historic Vote of No‐Confidence
OAKLAND— Employees throughout the University of California system overwhelmingly
rejected the leadership of UC President Mark Yudof in a stinging vote of no‐confidence.
96% of the voters returned no confidence ballots. The unprecedented vote took take
place from Wednesday, August 26 through Wednesday, September 2 on all UC
campuses, and resulted in a resounding declaration of no confidence. The vote had been
organized by a coalition of unions protesting Yudof’s budgetary policies.
Even though the vote took place during the summer break when most faculty and
students are away, thousands of UC workers such as faculty, custodians, nurses, lab
techs, and clericals formed long lines at polling places across the state in this historic and
unprecedented vote of no confidence in the President of the UC system. “I voted no‐
confidence in Yudof because enough is enough,” says Carolan Buckmaster, a UC San
Diego staff research associate and campus president of the University Professional and
Technical Employees (UPTE CWA‐9119). “Our campus community knows that President
Yudof’s policies are misguided. He chooses to implement tuition hikes and devastating
cuts to teaching, research, patient care and other vital services, all the while propping up
UC executives with lavish bonuses and pay raises.”
“California deserves University leadership working to maintain the UC mission during
these tough times, not destroy it,” says Lakesha Harrison, a UCLA Licensed Vocational
Nurse and President of AFSCME 3299. “Yudof’s plan instructs campuses to make the cuts
visible by eliminating classes, laying off workers, increasing class sizes, and making it
harder for students to graduate on time. This is unacceptable. Meanwhile President
Yudof and the Regents continue to raise the pay of top bureaucrats while they claim
there is no money. This is a public university not a Wall Street hedge fund.”
The University of California union coalition which organized the vote of no confidence
represents over 60,000 employees on campuses, medical and research facilities
throughout the UC system.
That is a severely biased voting percentage.
Yudof was hired at double the last Presidents wage and a rented mansion(hmmm the last guy lived in the one that is "unlivable") and his incredible retirement fund that is immediately vested! He came to do what he is doing. Cut wages and push through layoffs requireing the rest of the staff to increase their workload without compensation, increase student wages, cut classes, increase classroom sizes... you name it, he is here to do it. It has nothing to do with the economy. It has everything to do with planning. The gave the raises, stipends etc, in the fall with full knowledge what was happening-- our economy was tanking then- before Obama was elected. They (Regents& Yudof)absolutely planned to hide behind the economy to cut wages and push layoffs. The probably took flack for forgetting those people who were in interim positions and when they decided to no hire those positions, they asked for those raises on the same day as the furlough/paycuts were approved.So they lined their pockets first before they took those voluntary pay cuts in June. It is all part of the plan. Common folks, with nearly 6 Billion dollars for and "emergency?" you are going to
swallow the lies? Who has six billion as an emergency fund? and doesn't use at least part of it in a "financial crisis?"
I think UC Regents and Yudof is counting on all of us to attack one another and cause a diversion... they think all of us are stupid- otherwise they would not say, "we are prepared to listen to other scenarios that will give the same savings" (or whatever the language was) when every scenario given to them has been absolutely refused. They walked into this knowing that they would not accept anything short of what they were doing. It was the plan all along.
Someone said UC is not a big box business out to hurt the employees. Maybe not, but they are definitly out to ensure that they do not lose thier financial base and will walk on our backs to make sure that never happens. Look at the latest! Increase student fees by 30%???? WTH? You are foolish if you have drunk the UC Koolaid! I coined the phrase many years ago and I will again, the regents and Yudof and all of their buddies in the "club" are no different that Enron or AIG Or the mortgage companies and credit card companies- they will bleed us to maintain their lives. they don't care about any of us. You have got to open your eyes people. They didn't bring anything to bargaining tables until two or so weeks before Sept 1 deadline with no intention fo accepting any alternative plan except START- where you must use vacation during campus closures.. so you get the double whammy if you do take START. Hello! How is that for an alternative! Nice of them to only have that option available- pay cut or vacation pay or no pay during campus closure. Let's wake up and quit kidding outselves that UC is for you and not against you. They are for themselves, not you!
IF YOU DON'T LIKE UC THEN DON'T WORK HERE!!! SOME OF US WANT AND NEED OUR JOBS HERE DESPITE WHATEVER SHADINESS PEOPLE FEEL IS GOING ON. ACCEPT THE FURLOUGHS NOW SO WE CAN HAVE SOME SORT OF PIECE OF MIND.
What peace of mind? Any peace of mind you gain by rolling over and letting the bosses do it to you will be completely illusory, and will likely be rudely shattered by the pink slip you get 6 months from now.
The furloughs are not going to save all our jobs. Although the furloughplan is expected to "save" close to $500 million dollars, UCOP has stated (on their furlough FAQ page) that they intend to only apply about $184 million of that to the shortfall of state funding. And they will the rest of that savings for "other things."
I recommend everyone to bookmark and read
Professor Chris Newfield's blog, "Remaking the University. http://utotherescue.blogspot.com/
And Bob Samuels' blog Changing Universities http://changinguniversities.blogspot.com/
OK so we're getting news today about temporary layoffs
And we know UC wants us to put pressure on the unions to sign off on furloughs
So I don't want to do what UC is manipulating us to do
But
It is time to end this impasse.
Please sign off on the furloughs or be prepared to lose the confidence of your membership and all that may entail!!!
Why aren't we being asked to vote on this? All we have had in terms of CUE asking for our preferences is an online survey of which we STILL haven't been given the results of. This is the biggest load of bullsh*t.
And how many membership meetings have you been to this year?
Hmmm, I don't have the resources to travel California for meetings. If you're aware of local meetings that happen regularly then fill me in. I sure haven't heard anything from my local CUE representatives.
The university IS in a budget crisis. Without California support they ARE in serious trouble. Even worse trouble after the stimulus ends.
They will either LAY SOME OF US OFF or cut our salaries. I don't know about you, but I lose my job and my family goes under. Those of you claiming we should fight this must either be 1. gamblers or 2. know your jobs are safe. I know a number of people who are critical in their positions who are fighting this knowing they are safe. That is so unfair to the rest of us who may be facing the chopping block.
A 4-8% pay cut can easily be handled by being frugal, cutting back on expenses, investments etc. A 100% pay cut would cripple most families.
Please stop risking MY JOB and my family because YOU don't want to lose 4-8% of your salary.
If this union truly represents the people, take a vote. I am a long time union supporter but you have to know when to fight and when not to. If I lose my job because of power plays, the union will have failed me and my family.
- Concerned Employee
Your error, Concerned Employee, lies in the assumption that we are facing either pay cuts or layoffs. The administration's reluctance to forgo layoffs while the pay cuts are in force suggests to me that we are facing a preliminary cost-saving measure of pay cuts followed by a round of layoffs anyway. I don't see how accepting pay cuts without assurances does us any good at all. It's a chump deal, and I don't want CUE to take it.
Thank you palaeologos for your comment. I entirely agree a guarantee of no layoffs would be ideal, but that seems unlikely. Even as the situation stands, your position really doesn't add up.
In general - your position is let's take lay offs because they might take lay offs anyway. How does that make sense unless you know you won't be laid off?
Just look at the math. Say the university has X money. They cut salaries by 4-8% and they now have ~1.06X. So they either cut people based on having X money or 1.06X money. Certainly the latter is a more positive option with fewer folks losing their jobs.
Again, let's have a vote? Or better yet, let the people who refuse to take pay cuts face layoffs while those of us who accept them keep our jobs.
- Concerned Employee
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THIS
POLITICAL GAMES, MORE WILL BE FOLLOW, EITHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.
IT'S NOT FURLOUGH OR NOT!! CANNOT
TRUST AT ALL.
I am in awe of this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/magazine/27fob-q4-t.html?ref=magazine
I have to hope that it's a joke or satire on the part of President Yudof and the NY Times. Because if it's for real, what sort of mental midget did the Regents hire to privatize the University? Sheesh!
The New York Times Magazine interview with Mark Yudof is beyond belief. He should apologize to the faculty and staff at the University of California.
CUE UCSC posted this on their web site on 9/28:
9/28/2009
START ENROLLMENT
Friday September 18, CUE Local 10 sent a bulletin informing you that UCSC Labor Relations had given us notice that UCSC intended to proceed with temporary layoffs. In that bulletin, it was suggested that workers could enroll in the START program to preserve your benefits and have some say in the hours your work/pay would be reduced.
In that bulletin, Local 10 also suggested it might be prudent to wait for a temporary layoff notice before agreeing to enroll in START.
We’ve heard from many CUE represented workers giving us input about START and your ability to have enough months in which to spread out the UC demanded furloughs through enrollment in that program.
For those CUE workers considering START, Local 10 believes enrollment should happen sooner than later.
Local 10 will be tracking every single START enrollment to insure that workers do not “give back” more than the demand for the wage cut, as expressed in UC’s published salary bands.
When you file a START enrollment form, please send a copy to Nora Hochman, Local 10 Organizer/Representative at nora@santacruzcue.org. Please include a cover letter that identifies the month you expect to finish your START commitment. Please also immediately notify Nora if/when you get a temporary layoff notice.
Local 10 continues to believe that the UC Regents have established a false financial emergency, but workers must have options and alternatives to protect themselves financially. It may be that participation in the START program is the only way to do that.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Nora at 420.0258 (office) or 588.4305 (mobile). You can also fax your enrollment form to her at 420.0259.
CUE UCB sent this message on 9/29:
Subject: Important notice: PLEASE READ
If you have been following the bargaining reports from CUE's Bargaining Team
you will know that CUE and the University are still far apart on the issue
of how UC should respond to the State budget crisis.
CUE anticipates that UC will soon start issuing temporary layoff notices to
CUE represented employees as a tactic to pressure the unions to agree to its
policies. CUE regards this as an unfair labor practice and will pursue its
legal options accordingly.
If you receive a temporary layoff notice please inform the CUE office
immediately at 510-841 0700 or via email at: berkeleycue@cueunion.org.
Temp. layoffs must be completed within 120 days and the days off must be consecutive days. Depending on how a campus is implementing the furloughs (ucb is doing 7 days over winter break and 4 days over spring break plus floatings days for about 11). Going on START has the same benefits as furloughs BUT at least at UCB, it would seem that workers would have to ALSO take vacation days during campus closures thus CX workers take a double financial hit
Under START is it possible to adjust the work schedule so workers could make START work the same as furlough/closure days?
There are also other problems with START as it ends in June and furloughs go to end of August -- so would have to take higher percentage than furlough to achieve the furlough savings
Please share your thoughts
Another blog's response to Yudof's NY Times interview...
see http://utotherescue.blogspot.com/
NO RESPONSE from UCD CUE REPS!!
I would like to more involved in the union, but I can't get any response from any of the officers or representatives regarding meetings. And I'm not the only one. What should we do?
The last direct contact (email) I received was from CUE was from Dan Lewis in Davis on Sept 22. Thank you for the info Dan. The Local #7 members received an informative email from him earlier that day.
Via email, I have directly asked the local officers for information about local meetings, and have not received any information.
Here's an excerpt from what I sent to Dan just moments ago and I copied Local #7 officers, and the So Cal. and No. Cal Reps:
"If CUE Local #7 expects support from its members or for us to "get involved", more information about when, where, and how needs to be available.
Please be cautious. Your Local #7 members are loosing faith in CUE by the moment. You have a lot of ground to make up to regain that faith. The more CUE officers avoid me, the more my faith in CUE will decrease.
CUE can't afford to loose anymore support from the local members--my co-workers--who are still sitting on the fence right now. And yes, that's where I am. More and more people are jumping off the fence every day...and not necessarily to your side.
I see updates on the CUE website home page--of which I thank you, but nothing else has changed on the local web pages. Local members--my co-workers--don't know where to turn."
Thank you,
Dawn Collings
Please CUE – Listen to what we are saying. STOP fighting this and get onboard.
Everyone who opposes CUE fighting needs to speak up and let them know that we do not want our benefits touched and a layoff would be devastating!
WHO IS SO DUMP???
It was on the News last night that
UC Berkeley is willing to spend 3 million to hire an outside Consulting Firm to resolve their
UC budget crisis. A lot of $$$ can be saved from furlough/laidoff/
high student fees if they can STOP spending lavishly on unnecessary expenses: top management double-pay; remodel the restrooms like top hotel setting;replacing panels on wall instead of continuous paintings several times per year; changing new hand towel machines, gargage cans several times a year.
Wake up people! Do not feed into the propaganda. Fact- we are in a crisis here in California. Do you think that UC is immune? Do you think every company/organization can stop spending all together? Know the facts… Certain positions have to be filled. People are retiring or leaving for other reasons, which leaves vital positions open. UC is not out to get us! In fact, it has easily been the best place I have ever worked. Where else are you going to get these kinds of benefits? Benefits, which CUE is now forcing to be taken away. Look at what you have and appreciate it!
INSANE & DISGUSTING!!
7 million to remodel UC cafeteria,
just want to WASTE, WASTE but take
away the poor's $$$ & benefits to
fulfill their greediness.
Everyone enjoy your temporary layoff, because if we don't push CUE to act now, that is exactly what will happen. To those who doubt that this will happen, don't yell about it after the fact. We have a chance to take care of this now. Please encourage CUE to accept the furlough plan now. I don't know about you, but I can't afford to have 11 days taken out of one months check. Can you?
EXAMPLE OF HOW CUE LOOKS AFTER US -How many of you are in a situation where you have been at a standstill with the Union in regards to your Re-Class? They are holding back people's advancement if it takes them out of the Union. It is a very common thing. We are just a number/$ to them. They are just fighting the furloughs to validate themselves. They only have their own interest at heart.
I've never been involved in a re-class, so forgive my ignorance, but how can the union hold it back?
You cannot be re-classed if the UNION does not approve it. If your re-class does not take you to a level that brings you out of the UNION, you are fine. If it does though, they have been known not to approve or hold it up so they don't lose you as a member.
I am one of those who CUE has screwed over in being re classed out of the unit. The HR office on my campus found that I was one of three who was working at the higher level. There were 80 cases waiting to be reviewed. A labor judge reviewed 14 and CUE contested each one. Mine is still sitting in limbo and has been for the past 3 years. So I say eff you CUE!
We are victims of CUE not the University. Had the furloughs been accepted right from the beginning my salary would decrease by 6%. I’m going to avoid a temporary lay-off by signing up for the START program. This means my salary will now be decreased by 10.5%. And it’s more than a financial burden. My working hours are reduced but my workload isn’t. The stress will take its toll on my emotional and physical well-being. CUE needs to go. Can’t they see they’re doing more harm than good? (Hey CUE, can I at least have some K-Y?)
Dear CUE,
What is going on? I thought the idea of the union was to benefit the workers and to stand up for their rights and needs. And I appreciate the idea of it—I appreciate CUE.
Or thought I did…
Because this furlough thing is not leaving us united.
I understand your refusal to accept the furloughs—I truly do. But I feel like now, you’re just going by the it’s the principle of the thing mentality because everyone in CUE who I’ve spoken with (and I) are getting more and more upset.
Furloughs are inevitable. Holding out isn’t going to do anything!
Why? Because the money needs to come from the department. There are a few people in my department who are in a union and didn’t get the pay cut and furloughs. Now we’re asked to make hard decisions—we will be watching one or two of us leave because the department will now have a deficit in their budget.
As a result, all of us—voluntarily— signed up for START. But START is a bad idea—it gives us the same pay-cut, yet we are stuck being at work on furlough days and have to use our vacation time during all those furlough-related campus closures.
Now I get the exact same pay cut plus I need to be on campus plus I am wasting all of my vacation days. This equals to a very angry realization that my union is not doing anything to help me. IT IS MAKING EVERYTHING WORSE.
The fact of the matter is that I rarely get angry, but this is making me deeply upset.
I voted for the furloughs, everyone I’ve spoken with voted for the furloughs. And what is the result? I have a pay cut, there are talks about layoffs, I have to waste my vacation time, I have to be at work when no one else has to be, and I’m angry.
There is also such a thing as equity. All of my coworkers got pay cuts—what makes me so special? They earn only a few thousand more than I do… It makes little sense to me.
Vote for the furloughs!
Sincerely,
a concerned union member
IF you are on START and also using your vacation days during the closure periods, then you haven't set up your START right.
Set up your START so it coincides with the closure dates. Yes, you will have to take more than the the 5% percent per month but you will save your vacation days
I am going on START for DEC at a percentage to equal to the four days of closure then will lower the percentage in Jan/Feb to cover the three closure days in Jan and two days in Feb. THen in Marcha I will increase the percentage in March to cover the extra four days of closure. Then I will end START as I will have covered the 13 days of "furlough." savings.
Someone said, whyare we so special. We aren't special. We have a contract -- a legal, binding agreement with the university. All of the unions are saying to UC. You can't just change the terms of our employment without negotiating. And why should we change the terms of our contact without some other concessions from you (the negotiations are in the areas of pension contribution and cost of health benefits).
The one thing about the "furlough" plan that really irks me. UC says it needs to achieve savings of $184 million -- but in fact, if all the people who are "required" were on furlough, UC would see a savings of closer to $500 million dollars. They have stated this on their UCOP web site. This is why they are able to mitigate the fulough plan for so many workers. They don't really need to take such a big cut from out wages. They are doing simply because they can.
That is why you need to support your unions. Otherwise, you will need that KY because we will continue to get screwed year after year.
Also, I will remind you that only dues-paying members of a union may vote on any agreements between the union and UC. If you really want to have a voice in the union.
JOIN THE UNION
GO TO MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
HOLD BUILDING MEETINGS with members of your local CUE officers.
UNDERSTAND What is AT STAKE FOR YOU
Are CUE members ever going to get to VOTE on Furloughs or not?
UCSF AAIII
The state-wide CUE Executive Board is meeting in Oakland this weekend (Nov 14-15). I don't know where but we should be able to find out from our local eboards.
Show up. I'm sure members of the bargaining committee will be there, too.
Ask them your questions. Tell them what you think.
CUE is your Union. Our Union.
No thanks. I'd rather sit around passively and complain when my union reps fail to read my mind.
Everytime I think about the latest Bargaining Report (#30), I get more and more angry.
CUE HAS FAILED.
I've asked my local reps and the statewide reps (via email) that I want them to accept the furloughs.
Every single CUE member that I have spoken to over the past 4 months has said that they want CUE to accept the furloughs.
Numerous Blog entries tell CUE to accept the furloughs. And people have convincing arguments why the furloughs are less harmful than other alternatives.
(BTW, I still haven't seen the results of the survey that was submitted a few months ago. Staff Assembly announced their survey results publicly and within a reasonable time limit. Why hasn't CUE publicized its survey results too? Is CUE hiding something?)
Now, each individual has to circumvent CUE's inability to negotiate in a timely manner. We have to consider START. In some cases, it doesn't protect us from campus closure dates, and we still have to use vacation or leave w/o pay.
CUE you messed up this time. You've hurt your members.
I'm also angry that your best response to the temporary layoff alternative to the furloughs is for the individual to contact the EDD and file for unemployment.
REALLY, is this the best you can do for us?
Yes, I am an individual, but I pay membership dues for you to speak on my behalf. Yet, I feel betrayed by CUE as a member. I have to fend for myself as an individual. My dues are wasted.
Now you're telling us that an impasse is on the horizon, and no more bargaining sessions are being planned!!!!
Don't tell me to go to meetings. I would be happy to go to meetings, but our local doesn't hold member meetings.
Here's a copy of the email that I sent to my local reps and the Statewide reps. If you have questions about the CUE Executive Board Meeting, ASK. If you get answers, share those answers with other members.
If you think that CUE needs to improve its line of communication to its members, tell them.
I suggest regular CUE reports...possibly even weekly or bi-weekly. What do you suggest to your CUE leadership?
-------------
Hello CUE Representatives,
What happened at the CUE Executive Board Meeting?
Someone posted on the CUE BLOG that the CUE Executive Board meeting was held over the weekend (Nov 14-15). That person added the slogan, " CUE is your Union. Our Union." (Complete Blog entry quoted at end of this email.)
I'd like to believe that slogan. However, I must admit that I feel like an outsider. Dorie and I have had the chance to chat once. Beverly Kelley and I also had one conversation in August that didn't end very pleasantly. Dan Lewis and I have also been in contact a few times via email. I've even received email replies from some of the State reps on occasion. I still feel like an outsider.
I'm asking for information (again) about what is happening with CUE. I'm asking for myself. But I'm not asking JUST for myself. I'm asking for all CUE members at the UC Davis Library. I'm asking for all CUE members at UC Davis. I'm asking for all CUE members statewide.
Just like you have regular reports on the Bargaining sessions, you should be reporting to your members on a regular basis.
For example, this past CUE Executive Board meeting:
What happened?
What was discussed?
What are CUEs plans to handle the impasse in negotiations?
What are the chances of furloughs? (Rumors are spreading that furloughs are going to be rescinded for CUE. Is this true?)
If we wait any more, is there the possibility that furloughs will be rescinded?
What was the result of the survey taken a few months back? (Dorie told me that the results should be available now.)
Where are we going from here?
What can the members expect from its CUE leadership during this time of crisis?
Okay, there are things you can't tell us. Fine, but what can you tell us?
I'm sure that other members have questions too. But I don't see CUE leadership reaching out to its members to keep us informed.
Communication from CUE leadership to its CUE members NEEDS IMPROVEMENT!!!
Thank you,
Dawn Collings
Library Assistant, Shield Library
UC Davis
Voting CUE Member
QUOTE FROM http://cueunion.blogspot.com/
"The state-wide CUE Executive Board is meeting in Oakland this weekend (Nov 14-15). I don't know where but we should be able to find out from our local eboards. Show up. I'm sure members of the bargaining committee will be there, too. Ask them your questions. Tell them what you think. CUE is your Union. Our Union.
Thursday, November 12, 2009 7:28:00 PM"
I received one answer:
Furloughs are no longer a possibility for CUE.
wHat a joke we are
Will we have to pay union fees now that we are furloughed?
Thanks, CUE, for taking six months to negotiate exactly what everybody else got. Everyone who committed to START for December is screwed with regard to the closure. To add insult to injury, the news hasn't even been effectively communicated. We had no idea what was going on in negotiations, or even that negotiations were still occurring. You are worse than useless.
You should try to pull your START application for December -- I think it might be possible.
If you want to read the Dec 4 agreement between CUE and UC, you can find on the UC Santa Barbara HR Web site:
http://hr.ucsb.edu/budget/pdf/CUE-Temp-Layoff-Effects-Agreement-12.4.09.pdf
So I guess we're stuck with pay cuts through Feb 2011 now?
That's only an assumption. Probably a good assumption. CUE didn't let us know there was a delay. But neither did our local personnel department nor the Human Resources people.
Communication broke down on all levels from the university to the union.
CUE's Report card:
Communication -- FAIL
Some of you are saying, "What? Again?"
Some of you are saying, "Are you surprised?"
It's been TWO MONTHS since CUE has had any contact with its general members.
Well, yeah, if you write to them, and BEG them for information, someone might reply. Some might even return your phone calls.
No updates on the CUE website. No emails.
Did you know that we are in mediation?
In Nov 2009, CUE announced that the University wanted to claim impasse. How many of you knew what the next step would be? Did CUE explain it? Did CUE keep you updated through the process?
CUE FAILED.
CUE....you had my support last October. I was willing to give you a chance.
If you want it back, you will have to EARN IT.
Shhhhh!
CUE is in Silent mode.
Why is CUE so reluctant to tell its own members what's going on? How can they effectively represent us if there's no communication? They held up the furlough plan six months just so they could rename it "temporary layoffs" and a few people could play the system for a week's worth of unemployment.
Only once in ten years have I felt that I got a fairer shake from the university because of the union's involvement with negotiating our contracts, and that has easily been outweighed by the downsides of having our contracts delayed, sometimes by years, while they negotiate for no better than we would've gotten anyway and make embarrassing claims like "there is no budget crisis." They've had time to post another idiotic Peter Donohue article, but not to tell us what they're actually doing.
IF YOU WANT UPDATE INFO, PLS. GO TO YOUR LOCAL CUE MONTHLY MEETINGS!
I don't recall ever having been told about a monthly meeting on my campus. Since limited people can attend anyway (one small room...thousands of members?), what's so difficult about writing up some notes for everybody?
I can verify that no meetings have been held for general members at UC Davis since June 2009. I don't know for sure, but I doubt that there has been a meeting for general members in the past 18 months.
If you wish to attend a local e-board meeting, you need to be invited. I've been trying to attend one for more than 3 months.
If you want information, you can write emails to state or local representatives. It has been my experience that they tend to respond within a few days--sometimes hours.
However, the more pressing the need (or the louder you scream via email), the more quickly they respond. When I send emails, I copy all the state representatives and the all the local representatives. I ususally get a response from someone.
I have spoken to Dorie Decosta (UCD Local Chair). She accepts phone calls. You can find her email address on the CUE "Local Contacts" webpage. She has replied to my emails and has given her phone number.
CUE needs to improve communication with its general members. Many people have said that in many different ways at many different times. Yet CUE is not improving, and it could be argued that CUE is in fact getting worse.
Dawn Collings
Library Assistant
UC Davis, Shields Library
Just an update...
I and one of my co-workers have been invited to a Local #7 e-board meeting.
Dawn Collings
Library Assistant
Shield Library, UC Davis
There is a rumor going around that AFSCME is planning a hostile decertification of CUE.
RE: AFSCME
I've listened to some AFSCME Reps; this is NOT a "hostile" effort.
Reunification, yes, and with good reason. It is as stronger and more democratic union than CUE.
CUE is trying to become affiliated with the Teamsters.
Teamsters is much stronger than
AFSCME, nurses still being layoff
(CWA union supposed to be strong for nurses). Pls. vote for Teamsters during these 2 weeks at your location! Thanks!
I am voting against the CUE affiliation with Teamsters. In part because I don't like the way the Executive Board made the decision (no transparency or input from rank and file) and the Teamsters (with a couple of small exceptions) have no history with UC. I heard at a meeting today that some in campus printing are represented by Teamsters.
Both AFSCME and CWA have gotten contracts for their employees. Because CWA is also trying to organize Administrative professionals, I think they are a good fit with clerical workers.
From the NACE-CWA web site:
Why a New Clerical Union Affiliated with CWA?
NEW ALLIANCE OF CLERICAL EMPLOYEES (NACE) is part of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), a progressive AFL-CIO union, and a leader in the fight to bring fairness to working people nationwide.
CWA KNOWS HOW TO BARGAIN WITH UC AND DEFEND OUR RIGHTS. CWA currently represents 12,000 of our UC colleagues – including researchers, technical employees and health care workers – as part of University Professional & Technical Employees (CWA Local 9119). UPTE was founded as an independent union, and affiliated with CWA in 1993. Its members work side-by-side with UC clericals across the state.
CWA IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE. This spring, CWA signed a new contract for UC’s 10,000 researchers and techs that includes substantial wage increases of up to 15% over 3 years. Other CWA-represented units, both at UC and nationally, have also made excellent gains. CWA’s bargaining, organizing and public sector lobbying expertise is unparalleled.
CWA IS ORGANIZING AMONG UC’S 14,000 ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS. These employees are our natural allies, doing similar work. UC clericals are often reclassified into administrative professional titles. A union that can coordinate between these groups will be stronger overall.
CWA IS A DEMOCRATIC, MEMBER-RUN UNION, with exceptionally strong resources committed at the local level, as well as essential legislative, research, training and legal support from the national union. We would be our own local, affiliated with CWA, a full partner with UPTE, but with our own treasury, elected officials, and bargaining committee. We would ratify our own contracts.
CWA REPRESENTS OVER 700,000 WORKERS NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING MANY UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES, such as those at the State University of New York, Ohio State, Indiana University, Vassar, the University of Tennessee and the University of Texas. Many of CWA’s members work in public sector education, health care, and federal, state and local government jobs.
CWA HAS NEARLY TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE WORKING ON UC’s 10 campuses, 5 medical centers and 3 national labs. As a strong union in the AFL-CIO, CWA will bring substantial expertise and financial resources to organizing UC’s clericals and advocating for our issues. Now is the time for change. Please join us!
NOT TRUE! Right Now CUE is asking
the members to VOTE for Teamsters,
DID NOT MAKE ANY FINAL DECISIONS
YET for the CUE members.
I signed for the ASFME take over with one stipulation that they don't hire any of the incompetent CUE representatives!!! Have fun looking for a job!
I hope that AFSCME wins! I hate CUE! They screwed me out of a reclassification. The job that I inherited last September was posted, I got it and am now proud to be unrepresented. CUE misrepresents their members and is self-serving.
I hope there's a vote. CUE says that we'd lose all the bargaining they've done and have to start over, but what has CUE's bargaining got us? Another impasse, and probably another final offer imposed by UC. If CUE were competent we'd have a contract by now. All those months of silence, but when AFSCME tried to take over then they started communicating with us.
I don't know if another union would be better, but they couldn't be worse.
CUE still S U C K s
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