Breaking Newshttps://csueu.org/news/archivePress Release: 97% Vote Union Yeshttps://csueu.org/news/archive/press-release-97-vote-union-yesPress ReleasesWed, 28 Feb 2024 11:32:12 GMTStudent Assistants vote to join CSUEU<p>For Immediate Release <br /> February 23, 2024 </p> <p>Contact: <br /> Maya Polon, maya@paschalroth.com<br /> Khanh Weinberg, kweinberg@csueu.org <br /> Maria Elena Jauregui, 818.355.5291, Spanish-language</p> <p>20,000 California State University Student Assistants Make History</p> <p>Student Workers Overwhelmingly Vote “YES,” <br /> Forming Largest Undergrad Student Union in the Nation </p> <p>SACRAMENTO, CA – Student Assistants from California State University (CSU) campuses celebrated forming the nation’s largest union of undergraduate student workers today. California state officials announced this morning that student assistants voted YES by overwhelming margins to join California State University Employees Union (CSUEU/SEIU Local 2579). </p> <p>A total 7252 voted by electronic ballot, with 7050 checking YES. With a decisive 97% of voters affirming their desire for a union, the student workers left no doubt they are launching a new day at the CSU. </p> <p><strong>“Standing strong, together in our union, student assistants are ready to ensure the nation’s largest and most diverse university system lives up to its promise of opportunity and equity; that’s what’s possible now that we’ve won our seat at the CSU’s decision-making table,”</strong> said Colin Culver, a student assistant from San Diego State University, who has been deeply involved in the student organizing effort since its inception. </p> <p>Student workers packed into the offices of the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) and into Zoom viewing parties on campuses around the state, eager to hear official word their historic organizing campaign was successful. Students dressed in colorful CSUEU T-shirts roared with elation when a PERB official announced the overwhelming majority of student assistants had voted in favor of the union. </p> <p>Gem Gutierrez, a student assistant at Sacramento State, explained she is eager to negotiate a first contract with CSU to address immediate issues students have and to strengthen student assistant work for future students. <strong>“We all voted yes for better pay, sick time, and more hours,” she said. “Many of us will only be here for four years but we know that this isn’t just for us – this is for every student worker who comes after us.”</strong></p> <p>Currently, most CSU student assistants make minimum wage and receive no sick time or holiday pay. The CSU has shifted more work traditionally done by union staff onto student assistants who are lower paid, have few benefits, and have their hours capped at 20 per week. Students are eager to address these issues at the bargaining table as they soon negotiate their first union contract with the university. </p> <p>Catherine Hutchinson, President of CSUEU added, <strong>“Student work is real work. With 20,000 student assistants joining CSUEU’s 16,000 CSU staff members, University management will no longer be able to divide students and staff or exploit student labor to degrade staff jobs. Joining together is a win for students, for staff, and for all Californians who have a stake in the CSU’s mission.” </strong></p> <p>Fed up with being underpaid and underappreciated, student assistants in April submitted a petition with thousands of signatures asking state authorities to approve their union election, the largest of its kind in U.S. history. Since then, student assistants have organized a 23-campus-wide unprecedented digital get out the vote campaign. Student organizers have reached their peers where they’re at – over text and email – leading to higher response rates than traditional means of outreach. </p> <p>Not only are student assistants thrilled to make history as the largest undergraduate student worker union in the nation, they are the face of a new wave of labor activism. This election is also the first primarily digital election overseen by California’s Public Employee Relations Board (PERB).</p> <p><strong>“Just like Cal State faculty, student workers who keep CSU campuses running must have a strong and united voice. I have no doubt that they will prevail, and their victory will inspire millions of young people to come together across racial lines to demand their right to join together in unions and build a better future,”</strong> shared SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry </p> <p>The student assistants’ historic election comes amidst a wave of union organizing led by young leaders who are reshaping and reenergizing the labor movement. Generation Z, or Americans born after 1997, are not only the most pro-union generation alive today, but their belief in the power of workers standing together exceeds even that of generations before them.  <br />  </p> Press Release: New Research shows Stagnant Wages Deepen Pay Inequities for Women and Workers of Color at the California State Universityhttps://csueu.org/news/archive/press-release-csu-salary-structure-leave-women-and-workers-of-color-behindPress ReleasesWed, 08 Jun 2022 19:07:00 GMTCSU Pay Inequities Could Be Addressed With Additional State Funding<p>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p> <p>June 7, 2022<br /> Contact: Khanh Weinberg (408) 921-0098<br />  </p> <p><strong>SACRAMENTO -</strong> A recent, independent <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color:#0563c1"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.csueu.org/Portals/0/Documents/2022/Salary%20Study/A_Staff%20Compensation%20Program%20Assessment%20Project%20Summary.pdf?ver=6K0s4o0uXDyMGk_aflt3pg%3d%3d" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">salary study</a></span></span> of the California State University, presented to the state Legislature and the Department of Finance in May, shows that the CSU’s 30,000 non-faculty employees are, on average, underpaid between 12%-20% compared to the market. Now further analysis from the California State University Employees Union, SEIU 2579, reveals that the pay gap is even wider when gender and race are factored.</p> <p>The <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color:#0563c1"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.csueu.org/Portals/0/Documents/2022/Salary%20Study/CSUEU%20Gender%20and%20Racial%20Pay%20Gaps%20Full%20With%20Appendix.pdf?ver=bCWKga-pX4TwiK6pmsUtiQ%3d%3d" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">new research</a></span></span>, with methodology verified by the UC Berkeley Labor Center, shows that on average:</p> <ul> <li style="margin-left: 8px;">Non-white men earn 2.7% less than their counterparts who are white men</li> <li style="margin-left: 8px;">White women earn 5.2% less than white men</li> <li style="margin-left: 8px;">Non-white women earn 6.5% less than white men </li> </ul> <p>“The California State University in May <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color:#0563c1"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.csueu.org/Portals/0/Documents/2022/CSUEU%20Docs/Salary-Study-Legislative-Report-04-29-22.pdf?ver=tPha3UI0q4A42VUO9XyshQ%3d%3d" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">publicly warned</a></span></span> state legislators that its mission to serve students is in jeopardy if it can no longer hire and keep qualified staff due to stagnant wages,” said Catherine Hutchinson, CSUEU President. “With this additional research showing that women and workers of color face greater pay inequities within the University system, it is imperative that Gov. Gavin Newsom fully fund the recommendations from the salary study to help the CSU to address systemic inequities that harm support staff who provide essential services for student success.”</p> <p>Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed a $211 million increase to CSU to cover compensation increases as part of his compact with the CSU. Last week, the Assembly and the Senate reached consensus to add $100 to the $211 million (to achieve 4% General Salary Increases for CSU bargaining units) and another $100 million in Budget Year + 1 to fund part of the Salary Study.</p> <p>Annette Bernhardt, Director of Technology and Work Program at the UC Berkeley Labor Center, reviewed the racial and gender research and verified its methodology. "This report leverages a unique and powerful data source and applies well-established statistical methods to project that shifting to the ‘Steps’ system will reduce race and gender inequality in salaries," said Bernhardt.</p> <p>The full salary study is posted <a href="http://www.csueu.org/Portals/0/Documents/2022/Salary%20Study/CSU%20Report-Compensation%20Assessment%20%20Proposal%2031MAY2022%20FINAL.pdf?ver=YXtamAQnZm2QNEcZRJkK8g%3d%3d">here</a>.<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%">Background</span></span></b></span></span></span></p> <p>The CSU and CSUEU are jointly advocating for a <span style="background:white">$287 </span>million state funding to be included in the state budget this year to tie employee salary increases to competency and length of service, just like all other state employees. The CSUEU research finds that adopting a salary structure with predicable “steps” would dramatically reduce the gender and wage inequality for CSU non-faculty employees. Additional information is posted here: <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color:#0563c1"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><a href="http://www.csueu.org/advocacy" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">www.csueu.org/advocacy</a></span></span></span><br /> <br /> ###</p> <p><em>The California State University Employees Union represents the largest segment of non-faculty employees at the California State University. CSUEU's 16,000 members support and oversee academics and operations, working at 23 campuses as well as at the Office of the Chancellor, in information technology, healthcare, clerical, administrative and academic support, campus operations, grounds and custodial.</em></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> PRESS RELEASE: Sen. Connie Leyva Proposes Bill to Fix “Broken” & Unequal CSU Salary Structurehttps://csueu.org/news/archive/press-release-sen-connie-leyva-proposes-bill-to-fix-broken-unequal-csu-salary-structurePress ReleasesFri, 19 Feb 2021 13:40:00 GMTSACRAMENTO – The California State University (CSU) has a broken salary structure characterized by fundamental inequality and a devaluation of the support staff who work to keep the University safe, clean, and operational seven days of the week. Today, state Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino) has introduced legislation to help address this inequity and to support staff at the nation’s largest public university system to earn a fair and equitable wage.<p>California State University Employees Union<br /> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br /> February 19, 2021</p> <p>Contact: Khanh Weinberg (408) 921-0098<br /> Jenna Thompson (949) 246-1620</p> <p>Sen. Connie Leyva Proposes Bill to Fix “Broken” & Unequal CSU Salary Structure</p> <p>SACRAMENTO – The California State University (CSU) has a broken salary structure characterized by fundamental inequality and a devaluation of the support staff who work to keep the University safe, clean, and operational seven days of the week. Today, state Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino) has introduced legislation to help address this inequity and to support staff at the nation’s largest public university system to earn a fair and equitable wage.</p> <p>SB 566 would lift up more than 20,000 CSU employees who do not advance through salary steps - salary ranges based on merit and years of service - which are provided to virtually all other state employees.</p> <p>Read <a href="http://www.csueu.org/Portals/0/Images/2021/CSU%20Chancellor%20Letter.pdf?ver=2021-02-18-101116-547">Sen. Leyva’s letter</a> to CSU Chancellor Joseph I. Castro.</p> <p>The CSU professional workforce helped carry the University community through a pandemic. Even as most faculty, staff and students sequestered for safety over the past year, frontline employees in the areas of healthcare, facilities, IT, and administration have been reporting on-site, risking increased exposure. </p> <p>Support staff contributions to the CSU are evident: During an unprecedented health crisis that saw other institutions flounder, the CSU increased student enrollment. </p> <p>“As we emerge from this crisis, it will be more important than ever that the CSU infrastructure is fortified to serve students, whose education will be key to turning our economy around,” said Vicky McLeod, chair of the California State University Employees Union’s (CSUEU) legislative committee and an administrative analyst at CSU Fullerton. “And infrastructure is not just buildings and plumbing; the most valuable asset to an institution's infrastructure are its personnel." </p> <p>SB 566 is sponsored by the CSUEU; the Teamsters are co-sponsors.</p> <p>Senator Leyva’s legislation would provide CSU support staff an annual 5% salary step contingent on their job performance. The University can afford to pay for support staff salary steps - a June 2019 state audit revealed the CSU held a budget surplus of $4 billion of which $2 billion were ongoing, discretionary funds.</p> <p>Indeed, in hiring a new chancellor and two new campus presidents last year, the Board of Trustees approved salary increases of 30 percent and 10 percent respectively for the executives. </p> <p>As the state enters Pandemic Year 2, it is essential to focus on building a strong and healthy University by investing in the people who keep it working. That starts with a restoration of salary steps at the CSU.</p> <p>“Businesses and organizations may want to return to ‘normal,’ but what the CSU needs is a return to better,” said CSUEU President Catherine Hutchinson. “The current dysfunctional structure means new hires are paid more than their co-workers who have worked the same job, on the same campus, for more years. It is time for the CSU to truly treat its employees as the foundation of the institution, not as an expense to be minimized.”</p> <p style="text-align: center;">###<br /> CSUEU represents 16,000 employees who support and oversee the academics and operations of the California State University, including information technology, healthcare, clerical, administrative and academic support, campus operations, grounds and custodial. </p> <p><br />  </p> Coalition Calls on CSU East Bay to Stop Dangerous Repopulation Planhttps://csueu.org/news/archive/coalition-calls-on-csu-east-bay-to-stop-dangerous-repopulation-planPress ReleasesSun, 19 Jul 2020 23:17:14 GMTPRESS RELEASE | July 20, 2020<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong><img alt="" src="https://www.csueu.org/Portals/0/Images/2020/COVID19/StopRePop%20image%20for%20web.JPG?ver=2020-07-22-220003-613" /></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>UPDATED July 22, 2020</strong><br /> Media coverage of event</span></p> <p class="gmail-" style="margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/cb042c22-0803-47d8-b91a-9ed907acbae8?token=60629073-bdcd-4ea9-bbe7-02f326cfd842"><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="color:black">KTVU Fox – San Francisco </span></span></strong></a></span></p> <p class="gmail-" style="margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/9a940ced-0958-46aa-9e44-4c47c560142b?token=60629073-bdcd-4ea9-bbe7-02f326cfd842"><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="color:black">KNTV NBC - San Francisco</span></span></strong></a></span></p> <p class="gmail-" style="margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/1935f207-4338-418e-beb8-ab062f28375d?token=60629073-bdcd-4ea9-bbe7-02f326cfd842"><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="color:black">KGO 7 </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="color:black"> ABC – San Francisco</span></span></strong></a></span></p> <p class="gmail-" style="margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong><a href="https://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/380c5157-af07-467e-8f70-a53f59050b4f?token=60629073-bdcd-4ea9-bbe7-02f326cfd842"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="color:black">KCBS </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="color:black"> AM – San Francisco </span></span></a></strong></span></p> <p class="gmail-" style="margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4grwSvrV-U&feature=youtu.be">Union Video</a></strong></span></p> <hr /> <p class="gmail-" style="margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     </p> <p>July 20, 2020                             </p> <p>Contact: Khanh Weinberg, (408) 921-0098<br />                                    <br /> “Stop the RePop” petition gathers signatures from students, faculty, staff & community opposing campus ordering employees back during peak pandemic </p> <p><strong>OAKLAND, CA –</strong> California State University East Bay is proceeding with plans to return nearly a thousand employees back to campus even as COVID-19 cases rise in the region making Alameda County the eighth highest county in the state. <br /> <br /> East Bay was among the last among the 23-campus University system to stop in-person class instruction and allow employees to tele-work from home in March, when the pandemic struck. The announcement in June that employees were to return to campus, in phases, starting July 1, was made without consulting with key labor unions, such as the California State University Employees Union and the Academic Professionals of California.</p> <p>In a matter of days after launching its petition on June 22, the coalition of students, faculty, staff, and family members had collected aproximately 1,000 signatures, calling on campus President Leroy Morishita to stop the repopulation plan. The group plans to deliver the petition – while maintaining social-distancing - in a sealed plastic bag in front of the president’s office tomorrow.</p> <p><strong>WHAT:</strong> Coalition Delivers Petition to Stop the RePop at CSU East Bay<br /> <strong>WHEN</strong>: 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 21, 2020<br /> <strong>WHERE:</strong> Campus President Office, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward, CA 94542<br /> <strong>Read the Stop the Repo petition here: <a href="https://bit.ly/StopRePop">https://bit.ly/StopRePop</a></strong><br /> <br /> “The University’s plan to repopulate reads very well on paper but has not, in fact, been the reality that our front-line workers have experienced,” said Diego Campos, CSUEU President at CSU East Bay. “Furthermore, the plan drafted in June does not reflect the dramatically different facts on the ground as cases are spiking in Alameda County.”<br /> <br /> The campus is located in Hayward, which has the second-highest number of confirmed cases in the county. State and federal data show that communities of color are disproportionately hurt by the disease, due to unequal access to healthcare and other systemic barriers.</p> <p>“We take pride in the racial and ethnic diversity at Cal State East Bay,” said Rachael Stryker, CFA East Bay Chapter President. “This order to return to campus will disproportionately harm workers of color and that is unconscionable.”</p> <p>The Office of the Chancellor has announced it will not re-open until January 2021, at the earliest. CSU Monterey Bay last week reversed course and said it would continue to allow workers to tele-work. And on Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced strict criteria for school re-opening for K-12 districts, making classroom instruction highly unlikely this fall.</p> <p>“We’re here to support higher education; we want as many students as possible to enroll and attain a quality education, said Dago Argueta, APC Vice President. “We have seen over the past four months that many operational and educational programs can be performed from home. There is no need to expose employees to unsafe working conditions.”<br /> <br /> ###</p> Humboldt State University's Lesson: Can't Operate Radio Station Without the Broadcast Engineerhttps://csueu.org/news/archive/humboldt-state-universitys-lesson-cant-operate-radio-station-without-the-broadcast-engineerPress ReleasesFri, 23 Aug 2019 11:13:12 GMTHumboldt State University<h2><strong>KHSU’s Broadcast Engineer Re-Instated Following Union Advocacy</strong></h2> <div> <p>Humboldt State University’s public radio station continues broadcasting with skeleton crew</p> <p>SACRAMENTO - When Humboldt State University abruptly announced layoffs at KHSU in April, the cuts meant the community’s public radio station would lose its one, and only, broadcast engineer. Following forceful union intervention, the position was restored and the station continues to be on the air throughout Northwest California and Southwest Oregon.</p> <p>Of the seven staffers laid off, including the general manager, only the dismissal of the union engineer was rescinded.</p> <p>“Management did not expect the Union to care. Or perhaps they did not even realize that one of the employees in the group they terminated was part of a Union and that they would held accountable,” said Steve Tillinghast, Humboldt chapter president with the California State University Employees Union which represents 16,000 support staff across the CSU. “Humboldt realized over the last several months that the chief engineer of KHSU is a critical employee and that the station could not operate, even in its reduced form, without him.”</p> <p>KHSU is a community-supported, non-commercial public radio station, licensed to and located on the campus of Humboldt State University in Arcata, according to its website. It broadcasts a mix of programs to a local audience of about 135,000 people through a temporary agreement with Capital Public Radio till the end of October.</p> <p>The layoffs came amidst leadership changes, fundraising shortfalls, and a state audit advisory that noted “opportunities for improvement particularly in the areas of strategic alignment, organizational structure, and governance.” The advisory did not recommend staffing reductions.</p> <p>“Major decisions made behind closed doors, with zero transparency, simply do not work for this community,” wrote four current and former state legislators in an April 16 letter to California State University Chancellor Timothy White.</p> <p>The politicians asked that the university involve the community in future decisions about the station. Since then, HSU President Lisa Rossbacher has retired and Tom Jackson, Jr., the University’s eighth president, came on board in June. <br /> ###</p> </div> Special Hearing Today to Probe CSU's Hidden Surplushttps://csueu.org/news/archive/special-hearing-today-to-probe-csus-hidden-surplusPress ReleasesMon, 12 Aug 2019 08:24:11 GMTMEDIA ADVISORY | Aug. 12, 2019<p>Special Legislative Oversight Hearing to Probe CSU’s Hidden $1.5 Billion Surplus<br /> CSU Chancellor will need to publicly account for state audit findings on August 12</p> <p>SACRAMENTO – Following a highly critical state audit that found the California State University has amassed a $1.5 billion budget surplus hidden from public view, state legislators will hold a special joint legislative oversight hearing on Monday, August 12 where CSU Chancellor Timothy White is expected to testify.</p> <p>NOTE: The legislative hearing will begin after the Assembly and Senate floor sessions adjourn – in Room 4202 of the State Capitol – with the approximate start time between 2:30-3:00 pm, but no definitive start time has been published.</p> <p>In the month since state Auditor Elaine Howle released her report, “California State University: It Failed to Fully Disclose Its $1.5 Billion Surplus, and It Has Not Adequately Invested in Alternatives to Costly Parking Facilities,” <a href="http://bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2018-127.pdf">http://bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2018-127.pdf</a>, Chancellor White has staunchly defended the CSU’s decade-long practice of building a multi-billion-dollar budget surplus while raising student tuition and seeking additional budget increases from the state. The audit showed:</p> <p>•    CSU used student tuition and salary savings to build a $1.5 billion surplus in its operating fund from 2008-18, with the surplus balance growing by 437% during this period.<br /> •    From 2008-12, the CSU increased student tuition nearly 80% and, between 2012-18, CSU’s surplus almost doubled as its state general fund appropriations grew by 60%.</p> <p>The audit also concluded that key stakeholders, such as the California State Student Association, were not informed of the surplus as required by law. While Chancellor White has maintained that all budgetary information was fully shared at board meetings. However, Aaron Castaneda, president of the Associated Students, Inc. at CSU Los Angeles, stood before the CSU Board of Trustees on July 23 and stated “That is not true,” to claims that students were aware of the funds.</p> <p>CSU Employees Union first raised concerns in 2017 about accounts held by the CSU that are outside of the State Treasury; the union worked closely with Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva who requested the audit. While Chancellor White claims the budget surplus can only be spent for one-time expenditures, the audit concluded the $1.5 billion – comprising primarily ongoing student tuition and state revenues – can be spent for ongoing CSU operation costs.</p> <p>“We believe the surplus can be better used to fund CSU instruction and program needs,” said CSUEU President Neil Jacklin. “While building the surplus, the CSU deceptively argued to legislators that it needed more funding or would be forced to raise student tuition or cut vital programs. The audit confirms there is money available to improve quality education for students and quality jobs for University employees.”</p> <p>The CSU has been the subject of other critical state audits in recent years:</p> <p>•    A 2018 audit raised alarming concerns about ongoing campus violations that threaten the health and safety of employees and students working with or near hazardous materials. <a href="http://bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/factsheets/2017-119.pdf">http://bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/factsheets/2017-119.pdf</a><br /> •    A 2017 audit cited unjustified growth in administration positions and salaries, uncapped executive compensation and an inability to document how state funds are spent. <a href="http://bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/factsheets/2016-122.pdf">http://bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/factsheets/2016-122.pdf</a></p> <p>CSUEU represents nearly 16,000 employees who support and oversee the academics and operations of the California State University, including information technology, healthcare, clerical, administrative and academic support, campus operations, grounds and custodial. <br />  </p> State Audit: CSU Conceals $1.5 Billion in Surplushttps://csueu.org/news/archive/state-audit-csu-xxxPress ReleasesThu, 20 Jun 2019 11:48:37 GMTFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<p> June 20, 2019            </p> <p>State Audit Shows CSU Concealed $1.5 Billion in Surplus<br /> “Excess student tuition” built the surplus, hidden from public, state oversight while employee wages have stayed stagnant</p> <p>SACRAMENTO - In a highly critical report, the state auditor found the California State University funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to accounts outside of the state Treasury and disregarded state laws covering financial transparency. The audit also showed that CSU campuses are keeping surplus funds in locally held accounts that are hidden from public view and state oversight.</p> <p>In addition, as the CSU constructs costly campus parking structures, its leadership has ignored requirements to maintain campus and community committees that promote less-costly alternative transportation programs intended to improve student access, according to the audit, available here: https://www.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2018-127/summary.html</p> <p>“Unfortunately, the state auditor has again uncovered violations and waste that occur when we allow the CSU to operate its campuses without adequate state oversight or accountability,” said Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva who authored the audit request. “The legislature must enact measures to ensure state funds cannot be hidden in outside accounts and are being spent in the best interests of students.”</p> <p>According to the audit, investment accounts held by the CSU outside of the state Treasury accumulated a surplus worth $1.5 billion, primarily from tuition. “The Chancellor’s Office did not disclose CSU’s surplus to legislators and students in key documents related to state funding and tuition rates,” according to the audit made public Thursday.</p> <p>The CSU Employees Union had urged closer scrutiny of the CSU’s outside accounts which were not being used for instruction and program needs. Because these funds lack direct state oversight, little is known about their management or use. Today’s audit says the Chancellor’s Office “has not adopted adequate policies to ensure that the amount of money CSU holds as a reserve and the manner in which it uses that money are appropriate.”</p> <p>Some key findings from the audit include:<br /> •    CSU used excess student tuition and salary savings to build a $1.5 billion surplus in its operating fund from 2008-9 through 2017-18.<br /> •    The annual cost of tuition for a full-time CSU undergraduate student increased by about 80 percent, from roughly $3,000 in fiscal year 2008–09 to almost $5,500 in fiscal year 2011–12. Meanwhile, CSU’s operating fund surplus grew by more than 400 percent over the last decade.<br /> •    Campuses often pass the resulting building and maintenance costs on to students, many of whom pay increased sums for parking permits but experience little or no improvement in parking availability.</p> <p>“For years, the CSU has claimed ‘poverty’ and now we find they’ve been holding $1.5 billion in outside accounts. The audit’s findings are disturbing and merit immediate action,” said Neil Jacklin, president of the CSU Employees Union that requested the audit. “This is just the latest example of CSU leadership irresponsibly managing public funds without fear of consequence.”<br /> The audit also reviewed parking program at four CSU campuses: Channel Islands, Fullerton, San Diego, and Sacramento.</p> <p>According to the audit: “The four campuses we reviewed have built costly parking facilities that have had minimal impact on campus parking capacity while committing the campuses to significant long-term debt payments.”<br /> The CSU executive leadership has been subject to highly critical state audits in recent years:</p> <p>•    An audit in 2018 raised alarming concerns about ongoing campus violations that threaten the health and safety of employees and students who work with or near hazardous materials. http://bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/factsheets/2017-119.pdf<br /> •    A 2017 audit cited unjustified and excessive growth in administration positions and salaries, uncapped executive compensation and an inability to document how state funds are spent. http://bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/factsheets/2016-122.pdf<br /> CSUEU members want to see the CSU once again be the university that puts students before profit and invests in the front line employees who provide the instructional and support needs of the University.</p> <p>“I hope our state Legislature takes steps to hold the CSU accountable and strengthen oversight. The practice of hiding state funds and ignoring state laws hurts our students and employees,” said Vicky McLeod, chair of the CSUEU legislative committee.</p> <p>###<br /> CSUEU represents nearly 16,000 employees who support and oversee the academics<br /> and operations of the California State University, including information technology, healthcare,<br /> clerical, administrative and academic support, campus operations, grounds and custodial.</p> CSU's Stashing of Billions of Dollars Off the Books Gets a State Audithttps://csueu.org/news/archive/csu-outside-accounts-get-a-state-auditPress ReleasesWed, 08 Aug 2018 12:50:38 GMTCSU's Stashing of Billions of Dollars Off the Books Gets a State Audit<p>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE&nbsp;<br /> Contact: Khanh Weinberg, (408) 921-0098<br /> August 8, 2018&nbsp;</p> <p>July&#39;s pay hikes for CSU executives point to need for more oversight, equity as students grapple with tuition costs and support staff struggle paycheck to paycheck &nbsp;</p> <p>Sacramento, CA -- The California State University Employees Union (CSUEU) today praised the Joint Legislative Audit Committee&#39;s vote to audit accounts the University holds outside the state treasury, saying oversight of these &quot;off the books&quot; funds is long overdue and sorely needed. &nbsp;</p> <p>&quot;For far too long, CSU executives have operated on a &#39;trust-us&#39; basis but evidence is accumulating that legislative and taxpayer oversight is sorely needed. There is simply no justification for increasing student tuition or implementing staff furloughs when records show a multi-billion reserve. There is no common sense in building parking structures and increasing parking fees when the state prioritizes alternative transportation. And there is no equality when executive compensation keeps skyrocketing while thousands of support staff that keep campuses operational are left to struggle paycheck to paycheck. We look forward to a thorough and eye-opening state audit of the CSU financial affairs,&quot; said Neil Jacklin, CSUEU President.</p> <p>Based on the latest figures provided by the University, dated June 30, 2017, the CSU held more than $3.7 billion in student, taxpayer, and other funds outside the state treasury and outside of oversight from the Legislature or the public. Much of this sum is believed to have been accumulated as students faced steep tuition increases and the university staff faced layoffs. CSUEU requested the audit and it was authored by Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silva. &nbsp;</p> <p>&quot;The state government needs to send a message on behalf of CSU employees that we demand transparency and accountability when it comes to university finances, if these funds are financed by California students, their families, and the taxpayer,&quot; Quirk-Silva said of today&#39;s vote to proceed with the audit. &quot;Our state&#39;s public institutions have to do a better job for our taxpayers. We have to do better for California students, and employees.&quot;</p> <p>Earlier this year, CSU Chancellor Timothy White withdrew his plan to hike tuition for CSU students by 4% for the academic year. &nbsp;But the University has refused to address the widening inequality between CSU executives and 16,000 frontline members of CSUEU. &nbsp; &nbsp;In July, the CSU Trustees approved increases of between 3 and 13% for executives including White. &nbsp;</p> <p>Meanwhile, pay for university support staff including information technology, healthcare, clerical, administrative and academic support, campus operations, grounds and custodial workers has been stagnant.&nbsp;</p> State Audit Slams CSU for Putting Student and Employees at Health and Safety Riskhttps://csueu.org/news/archive/pr-state-audit-slams-csu-for-putting-student-and-employees-at-health-and-safety-riskPress ReleasesFri, 13 Jul 2018 14:02:58 GMTThe CSU "Has Not Provided Adequate Oversight of the Safety of Employees and Students Who Work With Hazardous Materials." http://bsa.ca.gov/<p>SACRAMENTO - &nbsp;While focusing on four California State University campuses, a state audit released today cites unsafe deficiencies ignored for nearly two decades by the CSU, directing accountability right to the top: the Chancellor&#39;s Office &quot;has not taken the steps necessary to hold the campuses accountable.&quot;</p> <p>&quot;The Chancellor&#39;s Office has not provided effective leadership to ensure that its campuses address health and safety concerns related to the presence of hazardous materials,&quot; according to the report.</p> <p><strong>Audit Highlights</strong></p> <ul> <li>The CSU does not have adequate policies and processes to protect the health and safety of employees and students who work with or near hazardous materials.</li> <li>The CSU was made aware of many of these problems but repeatedly ignored recommendations, and failed to address deficiencies, cited by its own auditor.&nbsp;</li> <li>Some campuses also increased the risks of significant health effects to employees and students by failing to post required warning signs on rooms that contained asbestos.</li> </ul> <p>&quot;The problem is not from lack of funds. The CSU is currently holding at least $2 billion dollars in outside accounts which could have been used to protect the health and safety of employees and students,&quot; said Neil Jacklin, CSU Employees Union President. &quot;People were being harmed and we just couldn&#39;t get anyone from the CSU to listen to us. The state needs to hold the CSU accountable for its disregard of the health and safety of employees and students, and to enact statutes that provide meaningful state oversight and accountability of the CSU&#39;s operations and budget.&quot;</p> <p>The audit - requested by the CSUEU and authored by Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa) - was unanimously approved last year by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.</p> <p>&quot;Last June, I requested an audit to investigate the health and safety compliance of the California State University,&quot; said Assemblymember Wood, a member of the Legislature&#39;s Joint Legislative Audit Committee. &quot;My request was driven by some extremely concerning events reported to me that involved worker exposure to hazardous and unsafe conditions. Unfortunately, the audit results validated my concerns and I will be anxiously anticipating CSU&#39;s actions to ensure that CSU employees are working in a safe environment and that students are assured a safe learning environment.&quot;</p> <p>CSU&#39;s internal auditor &quot;has repeatedly recommended that the Chancellor&#39;s Office increase its oversight of the campuses&#39; health and safety programs,&quot; the report said. &quot;Despite the fact that many of these deficiencies have remained unresolved for nearly two decades, the Chancellor&#39;s Office has not taken the steps necessary to hold the campuses accountable.&quot;</p> <p>The four CSU campuses covered by the audit were: Channel Islands, Sacramento, San Diego and Sonoma.</p> <p>&quot;By not ensuring that their employees are adequately trained, the four campuses have placed their employees and students at risk of injury from mismanagement of hazardous materials,&quot; said the report.</p> <p>###</p> <p>CSUEU represents nearly 16,000 employees who support and oversee the academics and operations of the California State University, including information technology, healthcare, clerical, administrative and academic support, campus operations, grounds and custodial.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;</p> Fresno State Bargaining Lessens Layoff Impactshttps://csueu.org/news/archive/fresno-state-bargaining-lessens-layoff-impactsPress ReleasesWed, 26 May 2010 13:37:46 GMTSacramento, Calif. (May 26, 2010) - The California State University Employees Union (CSUEU) announced today that it has reached an agreement with CSU which will lessen the impact of layoffs and budget cuts on Fresno State’s CSUEU-represented employees.<p>On April 22, CSU notified the union of 60 layoffs at Fresno State effective this summer. During bargaining at the campus on May 24 and 25, CSU representatives rescinded six layoffs, settled five grievances, and indicated that they will work with the union to resolve as many remaining grievances and layoffs as possible.</p> <p>The memorandum of understanding between the two parties includes:</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">&bull;&nbsp;Voluntary programs to avoid layoff so that employees can take reduced work schedules yet still have rights to return to their former time base status in the future<br /> &bull;&nbsp;Formation of a Labor-Management Committee<br /> &bull;&nbsp;Fee waiver eligibility for two additional semesters for dependents of employees on layoff<br /> &bull;&nbsp;Additional training, temporary assignments and job clearinghouse services for affected employees<br /> &bull;&nbsp;Acknowledgment that layoffs often result in higher workload, which in turn can negatively affect employee evaluations</p> <p>&ldquo;With the agreement about voluntary time base reduction programs, we have every confidence that our members will meet the challenge to mitigate layoffs and save jobs for our coworkers,&rdquo; said Fresno State&rsquo;s CSUEU Chapter 309 President Nancy Kobata.</p> <p>Added CSUEU President Pat Gantt, &ldquo;CSUEU will remain vigilant against contracting out or permitting managers, student assistants or others to take our jobs.&rdquo;</p> <p>Gantt&rsquo;s reference to managers was spurred by a CSUEU-developed <a href="http://archives.csueu.orghttp://archives.csueu.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=75%2b7AWS4RXg%3d&amp;tabid=53">chart showing growth in Fresno State managers and staff </a>over the last 17 years that has just been posted to the CSUEU web site. Since 1992-93, the number of managers at Fresno State University has increased by more than 12 percent, while the number of CSUEU-represented staff members has decreased five percent. Sources of data were the CSU Office of the Chancellor and CSUEU.</p> <p>Further details about CSUEU are available at its web site, <a href="http://www.csueu.org">www.csueu.org</a>.</p> <p><strong>About CSUEU</strong><br /> Incorporated in 2005 after serving its members as a division of the California State Employees Association for more than 70 years, the California State University Employees Union has built up a rich record of achievements on behalf of its 16,000 represented employees. Today it represents classified staff members at the California State University&rsquo;s 23 campuses, as well as the Office of the Chancellor, encompassing such diverse job categories as registered nurses, custodians, groundsworkers, library assistants, graphic specialists, information technology consultants and performing arts technicians, among many others.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"># # #<br /> &nbsp;</p>