Members of California Faculty Association vote to accept furloughs
Members of the California Faculty Association (CFA)
have voted to negotiate a two day per month furlough for all faculty
employees that is part of the California State University's overall
plan to address a $584 million budget deficit for the 2009-10
academic year.
CFA represents approximately 23,000 faculty employees; however, only,
the labor union's 13,000 dues-paying members were eligible to vote
for or against the furloughs. A total of 68 percent (8,800) of those
eligible to vote did so, with 54 percent voting in favor of furloughs
and 46 percent voting against the furlough option. Collective
bargaining agreements between the CSU and its employee unions include
provisions covering non-retention and layoffs, but not furloughs.
"The faculty vote to negotiate furloughs will help to save jobs,
preserve employee health and retirement benefits, and ultimately,
allow us to better serve students," said CSU Vice Chancellor for
Human Resources, Gail Brooks. "We are facing a financial crisis, and
need to move forward to reduce our employee costs."
CSU Chancellor Reed previously announced a July 28, 5 p.m. deadline
for all furlough agreements to be finalized in order to plan for the
beginning of the academic year. Many CSU semester campuses begin
during the latter part of August.
"The CSU is prepared to work continuously with the leadership of the
CFA to finalize a furlough agreement in order to meet the deadline,"
said Brooks.
Approximately 85 percent of CSU's budget goes toward salary and
benefits, and the CSU is proposing to furlough all of its employees
(with the exception of public safety personnel) in all
classifications to help close the massive budget cut. The furloughs
will reduce $275 million in expenditure, and are one element of a
plan to address the $584 million budget deficit that also includes
enrollment cuts, increased student fees and other cost cutting
measures. The CSU has previously announced it plans to reduce
enrollment by 40,000 students over the next two years, and the CSU
Board of Trustees adopted an increase in student fees at its July 21
meeting.
Several CSU labor groups, including the California State University
Employees Union (CSUEU), that represents 16,000 non-academic
employees, have already accepted the furlough option and will begin
furloughing August 1. In addition, management and non-represented
employees, including the chancellor, campus presidents and
executives, will also begin the two day per month furlough beginning
in August.
have voted to negotiate a two day per month furlough for all faculty
employees that is part of the California State University's overall
plan to address a $584 million budget deficit for the 2009-10
academic year.
CFA represents approximately 23,000 faculty employees; however, only,
the labor union's 13,000 dues-paying members were eligible to vote
for or against the furloughs. A total of 68 percent (8,800) of those
eligible to vote did so, with 54 percent voting in favor of furloughs
and 46 percent voting against the furlough option. Collective
bargaining agreements between the CSU and its employee unions include
provisions covering non-retention and layoffs, but not furloughs.
"The faculty vote to negotiate furloughs will help to save jobs,
preserve employee health and retirement benefits, and ultimately,
allow us to better serve students," said CSU Vice Chancellor for
Human Resources, Gail Brooks. "We are facing a financial crisis, and
need to move forward to reduce our employee costs."
CSU Chancellor Reed previously announced a July 28, 5 p.m. deadline
for all furlough agreements to be finalized in order to plan for the
beginning of the academic year. Many CSU semester campuses begin
during the latter part of August.
"The CSU is prepared to work continuously with the leadership of the
CFA to finalize a furlough agreement in order to meet the deadline,"
said Brooks.
Approximately 85 percent of CSU's budget goes toward salary and
benefits, and the CSU is proposing to furlough all of its employees
(with the exception of public safety personnel) in all
classifications to help close the massive budget cut. The furloughs
will reduce $275 million in expenditure, and are one element of a
plan to address the $584 million budget deficit that also includes
enrollment cuts, increased student fees and other cost cutting
measures. The CSU has previously announced it plans to reduce
enrollment by 40,000 students over the next two years, and the CSU
Board of Trustees adopted an increase in student fees at its July 21
meeting.
Several CSU labor groups, including the California State University
Employees Union (CSUEU), that represents 16,000 non-academic
employees, have already accepted the furlough option and will begin
furloughing August 1. In addition, management and non-represented
employees, including the chancellor, campus presidents and
executives, will also begin the two day per month furlough beginning
in August.
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