From the California Faculty Association [email protected] or http://www.calfac.org

August 12, 2008 · Weekly news digest from CFA

THE STATE BUDGET AND THE CSU · CFA gives an ‘F’ to Assembly Republicans on budget · Lawsuits fly over Gov’s minimum wage plan

THE ALLIANCE FOR THE CSU · Attend Alliance night at Long Beach and Chico games

OTHER NEWS · COCAL conference brings Lecturers together · Student aid demand soars

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THE STATE BUDGET AND THE CSU

· FACULTY GIVE ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS AN ‘F’ ON BUDGET

Fed up with budget gridlock at the Capitol that is undermining public higher education, CFA launched an ad campaign this week aimed at Republican candidates in four Assembly districts who are toeing the all-cuts-budget line.

The ads would support Democrats in order to gain the so-called supermajority – the 2/3 vote -- needed in the legislature to adopt a state budget.

“At this point, we need to stop the small group of Republicans in the legislature who seem determined to take our public institutions hostage, slash the state’s public education system and burn our economic future,” said Lillian Taiz, CFA President and a history professor at Cal State Los Angeles.

Taiz continued, “Simply put, the Assembly Republicans are failing and so they get an F. As educators, it is our responsibility to make sure voters understand why they get an F and why this pattern of leadership in Sacramento cannot continue.”

The campaign – modeled on CFA’s effective 2006 “F-Arnold” campaign – consists of radio, TV and online ads that call out Republicans in Sacramento for blocking a budget compromise thereby causing deep cuts in education that will have a long-term negative impact on the state’s economy.

The ads tie four GOP Assembly candidates running for open seats — AD10 (R- Jack Sieglock), AD30 (R-Danny Gilmore), AD78 (R-John McCann), and AD80 (R-Gary Jeandron) – to the current Republican Leadership in Sacramento.

To view the ads online, go to: http://www.youtube.com/FlunkingRepublicans

To view CFA President Taiz’ opinion piece on the campaign, go to: http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/08/california_facu.html

· LAWSUITS FLY OVER GOV’S MINIMUM WAGE PLAN

The governor’s plan to cut state worker pay to the minimum wage pending a new budget has lawsuits flying in Sacramento. Last week SEIU Local 1000 sued the governor over a part of his plan that calls for thousands of job cuts and yesterday the governor sued the state controller to force him to implement the pay cut.

In a letter responding to the governor’s lawsuit and released to the media, state Controller John Chiang suggests the governor is arguing that a past case, White v. Davis, forces them to implement pay cuts until there is a budget. Chiang’s office says that interpretation of the case is wrong, but if the cut were implemented anyway, CSU employees would have to be paid minimum wage, too.

CFA Representation Director Bernhard Rohrbacher reviewed the case law in question and said, “We believe the decision whether to follow up on the non- binding suggestion in the governor’s executive order rests with the CSU Chancellor and Trustees. And the Chancellor has stated bluntly in memos that he does not intend to cut pay. Rather, he will pay salary from alternative revenue sources other than the state general fund. That is entirely legal under the case law relied upon by Chiang. CFA applauds the Chancellor’s position and will do what is necessary to ensure proper compensation.”

Chiang spokesperson Jacob Roper said a debate over interpretation of case law is only part of the controller’s problems with the governor’s executive order. “Controller Chiang is saying the order is simply unfair, exposes the state to litigation down the road, and is unnecessary because there is enough money to meet payroll for two months.”

CFA President Lillian Taiz praised the controller for arguing that state workers should not be used as pawns in a political power struggle and for his tough stand with the governor. “Lay-offs and extreme pay-cuts will only add damage to the state’s economy, certainly will hurt the families of public workers, and are wrong- headed policy. Let’s put an end to all this and get a budget based on compromise.”

THE ALLIANCE FOR THE CSU

· ATTEND ALLIANCE NIGHT AT LONG BEACH ARMADA BASEBALL GAME

With the end of summer drawing near, the Alliance for the CSU will go to bat twice more for CSU funding by hosting Alliance Night at games in Chico and Long Beach.

The first game will take place Thursday, August 21, when the Long Beach Armanda plays host to the at historic in Long Beach. For more information or to order your free tickets, go to: http://www.allianceforthecsu.org/activities.html

The following week, the Outlaws will return home to Nettleton Field on the Chico State campus to host a Labor Day weekend game and “Alliance Night” on Saturday, August 30 at 7 pm.

For more information email [email protected]

OTHER NEWS

· COCAL CONFERENCE BRINGS LECTURERS TOGETHER

The bi-annual conference of the Coalition of Contingent Academic Labor (COCAL) was held this past weekend at San Diego State.

CSU faculty from 22 campuses joined hundreds of contingent faculty from across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada to discuss the state of the profession and to share strategies for building faculty power through organizing, contract bargaining, and political action.

CFA presenters at COCAL included: President Lillian Taiz, General Manager Susan Meisenhelder, Associate Vice President-Lecturers Elizabeth Hoffman, faculty activists Theresa Montaño, Jonathan Karpf, Mark Karplus and Chris Haynes as well as Communications Director Alice Sunshine and long-time staff member (now retired) John Hess.

Serving as conference facilitators and moderators were CFA Lecturers: Linda Bynoe, Leslie Bryan, Dennis Kortheuer, Paivi Hoikkala, Elena Dorabji, Judy Olson, John Yudelson and Mayra Besosa.

Jacki Booth, the CFA Lecturer Representative from San Diego State, served as co-host of the conference and was instrumental in its success.

Cuts in funding for public higher education are a trend across North America, and COCAL participants were interested in hearing about CFA’s participation in the “Alliance for the CSU.” Many signed Alliance cards in support of the ongoing Alliance campaign.

· STUDENT AID REQUESTS SOAR AS ECONOMY STRUGGLES

As the state and federal economy spiral down and student fees continue to rise, requests for financial aid from college students have hit an all-time high.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported this weekend: “Nationally, 8.9 million students filed federal student aid forms during the first half of 2008, a 16.3 percent increase over the same period last year.”

This trend has been felt acutely in California where the cost of living and other financial considerations has made attending college particularly difficult for working class students.

To view the Chronicle article, go to: http://www.sfgate.com/cgibin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/11/MNN9126CUL.DTL&h w=student+aid&sn=001&sc=1000

UPCOMING EVENTS

Aug 15-16, Fri-Sat CFA Board of Directors meeting and leadership training Sacramento

Aug 21, Thur Alliance for the CSU Night at Long Beach Armada’s baseball game v. Chico Outlaws 7 pm, Blair Field, Long Beach For more info, go to: http://www.allianceforthecsu.org/activities.html

August 30, Sat Alliance Night at Chico Outlaws baseball game 7 pm, Nettleton Field, CSU Chico For more information email [email protected]

September 1, Mon CFA Offices closed for Labor Day Holiday

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