University, Union Strike Deal
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
OPINION UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO Evolution Fight Moves from Schoolhouse THE UARD Courthouse WWW. ucsdguardian. org Informing the UCSD Community Since page 4 --------_______________ MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2006 Student Loans on the University, Union Strike Deal Chopping Block Again After months of fighting, parties reach Narrow approval will for active-duty military personnel and the reduction of loan origina a truce. Retirement send loan-cutting tion fees were a few of the provisio ns and health benefits bill back to House of Alexander noted. "I would say students and col remain in the air. Representatives. lege groups lost big time on this bill;' UCSD Financial Aid Director By Vla.dimir Kogan By Erika Cervantes Vincent De Anda said. "Generally, SENIOR STAFF WRITER STAFF WRITER it will cost students more to obtain loans and to rettre the loan obli In the oft-bitter battle, the mud In an effort to push legislation gation. There are some pluses and slinging came from both sides. through before the holidays, the U.S. some students will benefit:' University administrators called the Senate passed a budget measure late The bill includes higher interest union intractable and said it put on Dec. 21 that would cut $40 billion rates for student loans. Parent PLUS political gain ahead of its members' from mandatory spending programs, loans, currently at a 7.9 percent fixed interests. The union representing with almost one-third of the cuts interest rate, will increase to 8.5 per- the university's 9,000 nurses said coming from ce nt. College UC administrators were si mply Gov. student loan groups now Arnold Schwarzenegger's political programs. PROPOSED AID CUTS plan to continue flunkies who didn't care if the work The landmark lobbying the ers threw out their backs dragging 5 1-50 vote - with • $12.7 billion reduction Hou e in hopes around obese patients. ow, after Vice President from federal student loan of blocking the nearly a year of fighting, the two sides Dick Cheney programs legislation once have made peace - temporarily. breaking the tie again. - approved the • Interest rates for Parent "The uni - bill, which has PLUS loans would increase versity, as well ANALYSIS been vigorously from 7.9 to 8.5 percent as the broader opposed by higher educa The governor started the name calling in a speech early last year. students and • Raises ceiling on tion community, higher education maximum amount in loans cont inues to Speaking at a public event that was disrupted by protesters from the advocates for its a student can borrow review this leg $12.7 billion cut islation to gauge California Nurses Association - to student aid. the full impact which represents the UC nurses - he require borrowers It's a price that • Would on our students said that the union was simply a "spe with guaranteed student students should and universi cial interest" upset with him "becau e loans to 1-percent . not have to pay pay ties;' Harrington I'm always kicking their butts:' to reduce the guaranteed fee stated. Howt:ver, in the fmal weeks of federal deficit Soun:e: u.s. StN/t! The USSA th..: year, the university and the CNA and lower taxes, plans to con broke through a months-long impasse according to UC tinue efforts to agree on a two-year contract for . spokesman Chris Harrington. to increase the pressure on House the nurses working at UC medical After its passage in the Senate, members for the last vote, and sees JOHN YAG'GUARDIAN centers. The deal, approved by the Democratic opponents offered a Nurses at UC medical centers, like Thornton Hospital employee Patrick Lutz, have nurses a week before Christmas, "point-of-order" objection because [ CUTS, page 3 1 been wrangling with the university over net;} contracts for nearly a year. includes a significant wage increase, of changes made to the bill after it pension protections and a ban on passed with a 212-206 vote in the mandatory overtime. House of Representatives, including "We are v.ery happy to have two provisions authorizing policy reached this agreement with our reports and another more significant nurses, as it will ensure UC will be provision that limits lawsuits against able to continue to -prOvide the qual hospitals that seek to require ity care that exemplifies all UC medi Medicaid patients to pay for non cal centers; UC Executive Director emergency care in emergency of Labor Relations Howard Pripas rooms. stated in a university press release. The bill will now return to the "This agreement will help UC t9 House for further consideration, and attract and retain the quality nurses will face its final vote Feb. I. that are in such high demand in "The last vote on budget reconcil California:' iation took place in the early morn The deal was one of four agree ing hours with supporters of the bill ments the uniyersity made among hoping to face little scrutiny due a flurry of negotiations in the last to the holidays and recess," stated month of the year. Several days after according to United States Student the nurses' vote, UC research and Association Legislative Director technical workers approved a sepa Jasmine L. Harris. "Recall that the rate agreement with the university, House passed the budget reconcili which also included a pay hike. Two ation bill by a slim margin, with 16 other tentative agreements included members not present for voting." clerical and library employees. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) "The pay raises are a step in the emphasized the bill's critical role in right direction for recruiting more reducing the federal deficit, the first nurse ," stated U SO Medical Center comprehensive budget reconciliation nur e Janice Webb, who served as a measure since 1997. member of the negotiating team, in "The higher education provisions a union announcement 'of the vote in this bill are an important step results. toward providing the skills necessary In exchange, the nurses agreed for America to keep its competi not to carry out sympathy strikes in tive edge in the world," Alexander disputes involving other university stated in a press release. "This bill unions. On another contentious is ue achieves our deficit reduction targets that eluded agreement for months, while demonstrating a commitment the university said it would allow to higher education." nurse to form "lift team " or use lift Loan forgiveness for special edu devices to move heavy patients. cation, math and science teachers However, the new contract does who teach in low-income schools, loan deferment of up to three years I NURSES. page 3 I INSIDE WEATHER Current .............................. ..... 2 Column ................................... 4 Jan. 9 Jan. 10 With 11 IeCOIlds on the dock. Chico Letters to the Editor ................. 5 H 74 L4 7 H n L45 State narrowed UCSD lead, but Crossword ............................... 7 fined to close the deal. Campus Calendar .................... 9 Jan. II }an. 12 .,..12 Classifieds ............................. 10 H 67 L45 H 73 L 48 2 NEW THE U SO GUARDIAN M ONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2006 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2006 THE UCSO GUARDIAN NEWS 3 Budget Plan Does Not We're All in This To THE '- ;:'~, GUARDIAN Deal Leaves Staffing Ratio Undetermined Granl Schrader Edilor in Chief Address Future Fee Hikes • NURSES, from page 1 of Schwarzenegger's self-proclaimed the cont ract talks. Vladimir Koslan Managing Edhors not address the crucial question of "reform agenda" in the November "SHA ME . ON YOU PIGS AT Ia n S. l'ort • BUDGET, from page 1 dent one yea r, what happens the other staffing ratio - which was at the statewide special election and con THE TROUGH!I!" stated one COI11 - fee hikes, also voiced acclaim of the three years? Stability and certainty for Nathan Miklos Copy EditoIs heart of the dispute - with both troversy surrounding the transparen ment, signed as "a UC manager:' Heather Welles governor. stl!dents is one of the key areas we need parties instead agreeing to allow for cy of Ihe university's compensation. "PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU "We're heartened by the governor's to address:' Charles Nguyen News Edi10r an independent arbitrator to make The CNA, with other state-work UNDER-PAY MOST EMPLOYEES effort to make sure U and CSU stu For now, any long-term guarantee of a final, and binding, decision on the er union , spent tens of millions of and . ACT AS AN 'ENRONI Matt McArdle Msodote News Editor dents aren't hit with what Wt consider flat fee levels is a pipe dream. Joshi said. issue. dollars to defeat the sovernor-backed WORLDCOM TYPE' WHE an unfair tax;' Stapler said. "Education "The reality is that the state and UC Marianne Madden Opinion Editor The staffing.que tion was largely initiatives and looked at the outcome YOU BARGAI DISHONE TLY is the great equalizer in California and budget has to be approved year-to-year, responsible fur exacerbating the rift as a political victory. Several weeks W ITH THE UNIONS. YOU HAVE Hanna Camp MIONIe Opinion Editor to make it so expensive takes away so we have to fight against fee hikes between the two sides early la st year, later, the San Francisco Chrollic/e TARRED ALL. OF U WITH Rael Enleen SportJ Editor from that ability to eqUalize." . every year~ she said. "This one year of when chwarzenegger attempted began .. publishing a series of arti YOU R SHAMEFUL f.ND GREEDY The budget proposal still has its fee- relief at least shows us it's possible:' Angie lin MIodaIe Sports Editor to block an increase in mandated cles sugge ting that the university TACTIC :' skeptics, who worry over the plan's Because the university cannot roll nursing levels in the state's hospi In response to criticisl11, the Chrisline Pae Foc:us EdiIor relationship to the 2004 state budget over or exceed its revenue, fi scal .sta tals that was signed into law by regents of the university asked a compact between the universiry and bility still exists, Joshi said.