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California State University faculty from throughout the state
converged on two of the system’s 23 campuses Thursday morning to participate in a one-day strike to protest the cancellation of contractual raises for CSU faculty as tuition increases for CSU students, union officials said.
California Faculty Association spokesman Brian Ferguson said
hundreds gathered outside CSU East Bay in Hayward, one of the two convergence points today for CSU faculty, along with Dominguez Hills in Carson.
Ferguson said faculty and students arrived at the campus from as far north as Humboldt and as far south as Fresno, and that half of the professors at CSU East Bay have pledged to participate in the picket line. He said nearly two-thirds pledged not to cross picket lines.
Union leaders said this is the first-ever strike in the CSU system.
Despite the strike, CSU East Bay spokesman Barry Zepel said that
the campus remained open today. He said nearly 600 classes were scheduled for as many as 8,500 students between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. today, the hours of the strike.
Zepel said that the strike canceled some classes, though
administration could not yet be sure how many, and that traffic was snarled coming in and out of the campus.
AC Transit buses were unwilling to cross picket lines, Zepel said,
and dropped passengers off outside of the campus when they normally would come onto campus.
In addition to faculty and students, Ferguson said the strike has
received support from K-12 public school teachers and other unions.
Close to 100 K-12 teachers from Oakland, San Leandro and Castro Valley arrived at the picket line before their classes today, and the Teamsters union and delivery drivers honored the strike by not making deliveries to the campus today, Ferguson said.
A statement released Wednesday by the California Nurses
Association encouraged union members to join CSU picket lines today as well.
CFA treasurer Susan Green traveled to CSU East Bay from Chico this morning, and said there was a busload of about 50 faculty members, students and local public school teachers behind her.
Green said she has found that CSU students are supportive of the
strike.
“We say the faculty working conditions are student learning
conditions,” Green said, adding that students have seen the effects of state budget cuts in larger class sizes and shorter office hours.
“They also realize that the rhetoric of putting students first
isn’t true if you’re always putting faculty last,” Green said.
The strike comes following a closed-door CSU Board of Trustees
meeting Wednesday that approved a nine percent tuition increase to take effect in 2012 to help bridge a $650 million budget gap from state funding cuts.
The tuition increase would make 2012 the sixth consecutive year of tuition increases for CSU students.
Student demonstrators clashed with police outside of the meeting, resulting in four arrests. The hikes drew criticism from state officials, including Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.
Philip Klafky, a professor of ethnic studies at San Francisco
State University, said he is joining the strike today largely to make a statement against the tuition hikes throughout the CSU system.
“I’m concerned about the fact that I’ve not been given promised
raises, but I’m mostly concerned about the attack on quality public education,” Klafky said.
Klafky is sharply critical of CSU Chancellor Charles Reed, saying
that Reed is trying to impose a corporate model on the public education system.
“He doesn’t understand frontline teachers like myself, who have to go into work every day with larger classes, fewer opportunities for our students, and has refused to honor a contract giving cost of living increases to faculty,” Klafky said.
He said that his department of ethnic studies is over-represented in the strike because “we understand that the draconian cuts to public education impact the middle class tremendously but even more lower income and communities of color.”
Klafky said that he expected as many as 500 teachers from SFSU
would be joining strikers at CSU East Bay, and that thus far all CSU campuses have exceeded expectations for strike participation.
However, CSU spokesman Erik Fallis said that the demands the
faculty is making through the strike are unrealistic, and if achieved will only hurt students.
Fallis said that that a general salary increase for faculty was
only guaranteed if the CSU system received more state funding, which did not happen. Instead, the CSU system received drastic unexpected cuts.
“It really came down to the fact that the contract stated we would
go back to the table if the state did not provide the funding that was promised,” Fallis said.
Fallis said the CSU faculty are the only CSU employees that have
received any general salary increase since 2007, and that no executives or administrators have received salary increases in that time.
“The unfortunate reality is there will be no additional state
funding for $20 mil for faculty, so if the faculty and union leadership were to get what they’re demanding it would come from the students,” he said.
Scott Morris, Bay City News
By
Scott Morris, Bay City News
By
Students supporting this stoppage in learning, be careful what you wish for:
“The unfortunate reality is there will be no additional state funding for $20 mil for faculty, so if the faculty and union leadership were to get what they’re demanding it would come from the students,” he said.
Let the whining begin again…….
In this case, the bigger problem is not the $20 million that won’t be coming from the state, but the millions taken by the administration for their own raises AND the raise in fees for students. Seems like the administration said, “Hey, we don’t have $20 mil, but we can raise student fees and spread $6 million around amongst ourselves. All those in favor?”
I don’t support the kind of pressure unions use to get raises and their inflexibility when it comes to concessions, but neither do I support administration taking everything for themselves.
As always, the union teachers are striking “”for the children/students”” right ?? ..Never ! It’s pure disgusting GREED !
GREEDY UNIONS have handed American jobs to the world, and now they are destroying our educational system. Union buss drivers refusing to do their bus routes, by refusing paying customers, that is NOT THE DRIVERS choice to make….defiance, they should be FIRED ! !
Municipals should not be allowed to strike, like air-controllers ! ! !
And the anti-florence nightendales, being faithful union activists first, are joining in.
20 years ago Gov Moonbeam gave us PUBLIC unions… HE must be the ones to stop this self-destruction. IF Jerry doesn’t stop the insanity shortly, then we must. Sad, if we are forced to take it to the streets, to restore sanity to the system. Jerry is beginning to show signs, he must step up now.
It’s time to take our country back. These ignorant, greedy union anarchists are destroying America.
Yet another example of the old taking away the future for the young. Things are bad enough – at least do your job and try to give the kids the education they deserve rather than striking and wasting everyone’s time 🙁
Middle rage, I am a little stymied by the rage part of your posts. It’s detracting from the validity of any of the points you are making.
“a general salary increase for faculty was
only guaranteed if the CSU system received more state funding, which did not happen.”
Case closed.
Mike
Mike, Understanding this was somehow negotiated, I don’t see how one group says to the other group you can _only_ get an increase if the state comes through, but then give itself raises regardless of state funding and increase tuition as well.
You are correct Kathleen, my posts are quite valid. However, I’m not going to ‘watch’, the greedy unions, taking over ‘occupiers’, with their own messages; municipals acting like they’re their own bosses…they’re NOT !How dare they refuse to deliver student passengers. Nurses have to butt into every gathering with their leftist politics, and anarchist interference, even on non-political issues, they are just plain activists. UC, and USC, trample the middle-class. All these ‘public’ people are trampling the rest of us. They think they are industructible! Wrong, they’re not. The taxpayers are still the boss. If anarchists need reminding, so be it. They don’t own the streets, they need to be reminded.
Get out of our streets, transport your passengers, teach your students, or be replaced ! ! They better rein it in….and not be encouraged or FUNDED by TAXPAYING SUCKERS. Time’s up ! If any of the don’t want to do their jobs. BYE…we, the employers will do whatever we have to do. Councils and supervisors can be replaced too.
Middle, Okay; rant on. You just sound like Mr. Slippers/Jane/Dean/fill in a name trying to speak from the conservative side of the argument.
Kathleen,
Indeed, administrators shouldn’t be receiving raises either. In fact, no one should be getting anything until the students get some tuition relief.
Mike
Mike,
“Indeed, administrators shouldn’t be receiving raises either. In fact, no one should be getting anything until the students get some tuition relief.”
– getting raises, or not getting raises, is only part of the problem/cost.
“a general salary increase for faculty was only guaranteed if the CSU system received more state funding, which did not happen.”
– Again, Mike, I’m not sure I agree with your statement regarding salary increases. There are significant costs associated with employment other than salary that are going through the roof at the same time revenue is declining. The pension issue is a big problem for the university system. When is the last time these purveyors of higher education were astute enough to foresee that not contributing a penny to their own pension plan might have consequences? It was a long time ago.
Arnold,
Agreed.
My basic stance is that there is much to be done before money lands in anyone’s pocket.
Mike
Kathleen, I speak from the middle point of view, not conservative. From what I’ve read, I would say I’m opposite Mr Slippers/Jane.
Aren’t I allowed to be as angry as occupiers? Their arrogance disgusts me. They do not consider opinions of others. I can be upset over tuition increases for the middle, to the benefit of underclass and the royal union class. They both make lots of obnixious noises…I will too. 99% are smart enough or focused enough to understand, the middle who are squeezed from both sides…that’s why calling themselves 99% is both incorrect and arrogant…they are not 99%,
@Arnold saying “When is the last time these purveyors of higher education were astute enough to foresee that not contributing a penny to their own pension plan might have consequences?”
You really don’t know what you are talking about do you, Arnold? Is it that you are simply ignorant of the facts, or an outright liar? (Check out CSU profs’ 5% contribution to their pensions.)
@MiddleRager saying “UC, and USC, trample the middle-class. All these ‘public’ people are trampling the rest of us. They think they are industructible [meant to say industrious, did you?]! Wrong, they’re not.”
The book is closed on you, MiddleRager. USC? You’re simply one ignorant goof with a serious persecution complex. (You see, USC is what you end up with if you _don’t_ have quality public college education.)
To have a world-class educational system, and both UC and CSU are that, though they do different things, they need to offer competitive salaries both to professors and administrators. Some of you want to pit professors against students; others want to pit professors against administrators. All you closeted teabaggers don’t want to acknowledge, however, that Californians (which includes you) simply do not want to contribute to quality public education. With decreased quality of public education, the entire state suffers. Public universities feed doctors into surrounding communities (which is why you don’t want to get sick in Idaho or Mississipp). They feed teachers into the K-12’s. They feed highly trained scientists and techies to the private sector. Reduce the quality, and you reduce the quality of life within the state. How does quality get reduced? Cut salaries (pensions being but one component of salaries) and you cut competitiveness.
But don’t mind me. Please, each and every one of you country rubes, carry on about how you don’t want to pay a tax rate commensurate with the task at hand.
Middle, I agree occupiers are not representing 99%. If they are arrogant and obnoxious, why would you want to use their same tactics or speak like Slippers? Sorry for coming off as preachy–I just think points can be presented well and not at the expense of others.
Yes, MiddleRager, I agree with the closeted teabagger Kath. Take a note out of my book (above). It’s certainly excusable, at times even warranted, to identify idiots as the idiots that they are. But one should come to the conversation prepared to back your claims with good reasons and evidence.
There will still be some who ignore good reasons and evidence and instead simply chafe at being called an idiot (they seem to readily know who they are — funny that is!). But the majority of readers will recognize that those who choose to ignore your good reasons and evidence by deflecting to some extraneous issue are simply doing that and not much else.
See, now as far as your persecution complex, I can make that claim because you’re raging against things that you have no idea about. Such as your claim about USC being public, and how it burns you to be supporting USC with you’re tax money. You really can’t imagine how ridiculous you sound!
Middle,
I hope you realize that USC is a private University, and is very expensive. The tuition is rising there too. There are greater forces at work here.
Of course, MiddleRager, I feel somewhat ridiculous, too, when I don’t use my contractions properly — as in “you’re tax money.” Tsk-Tsk on me! But I’m sure not nearly as ridiculous as you who seems to be on the verge of a head explosion because tax payers are forced to support UC _AND_ USC. Hard to top that bit of foolishness!
Mrs. Pajamas,
“To have a world-class educational system, and both UC and CSU are that,”
Actually, no. UC provides a world-class education. CSU provides an education. The difference between the two is, of course, the quality of the teaching staff, which attracts world-class students.
Mike
PJ, I don’t agree with the strike, but I actually think the faculty and students are getting the short end of the stick on this one, because the administration managed to take care of itself. As I pointed out to you as Gale on the other thread, one example is how they managed to give San Diego’s president a $400,000 starting salary. They peppered millions around the top end and raised student fees and thought no one would react, “because it’s the state’s fault.” There’s idiocy for you.
My! You people sure do get out of bed early!!!
Kath,
College presidents — effective ones — don’t grow on trees. I do not begrudge a top hire earning 400,000 at a 40-thousand plus university student pop with thousands of employess as well. If he fund raises twice that, he’s more than paid for himself. Please don’t pretend this is a zero sum game. That’s tea bagger nonsense.
Mike,
You forgot the rest of my sentence. Yes, I said “To have a world-class educational system, and both UC and CSU are that, _though they do different things_, they need to offer competitive salaries both to professors and administrators.” Can you not read? Or are you being disingenuous?
Probably everyone reading here except the Village Idiot knows full well there is a distinct difference between UC and CSU systems. As for the latter, like UC, it is incomparable. And by that I mean, it educates working-class kids, usually of parents who possess no college degrees, and enables them to move up from lower-working to upper-working class while at the same time inculcating the students with faculties of critical self reflection and moral sensibility they’d likely be short-changed on were they to go the vocational-technical route. I challenge anyone to name a mid-level university system that is geared to do the same things as CSU and that does it better than CSU. I don’t think there is one. It’s a no brainer. PS … Many of those great teachers in Pleasanton’s K-12 system are spawned from the CSU system. Appreciated? Not nearly as much as they should be. CSU appreciated? Not nearly as much as it should be.
When I’m enRAGED, my fingers are going at lightning speed. My comments were all started regarding Thursdays news….CSU 9% increase. I guess those not up on current 24 hr news cycles wouldn’t catch it in conversation. I was chiming in with Gavin Newsom who was ranting that 24 hr news cycle on the regents latest tuition increase. If you’d care to scroll to the TOP of THIS THREAD, you’ll notice THIS TOPIC is CAL S T A T E trustee approve 9% tuition hike,…THEN REread all in CONTEXT. Appology accepted.
I didn’t realized reiterations and repeats were needed in every paragraph for those who start spouting without ehecking the TOPIC being discussed! ! !
PAJAMAS, I am SO sick of the teenage whining, ‘I have to be like everybody else, even when they’re wrong’ !!. I’m waiting for the first with honor and integrity to step up. Obviously, that would not be you.
Mrs. Pajamas,
UC and CSU are in quite different leagues, as are their respective teaching staffs. Players in different leagues receive different salaries.
Mike
Very perceptive comment, Mike, as per usual. Yes, UC and CSU are in quite different leagues; and then there are the part-timers at JC’s like yourself, who are nothing but bush league with fortune cookie mantras and sub-high school reading skills.
Middle Rager: Nothing whiney on this end. Simply addressing your persecution complex, which is undergirded by nothing but misinformation and ignorance. Keep venting all you want, Rager. Nobody can tell what you’re ranting about anyway. Re-read and see what a fool you are, though you’re so dumb you probably can’t realize what a fool you are.
Jammies, I’m saying faculty got the short end of the stick, and you are still going to take exception. Sleeping in doesn’t appear to help you.
Mrs. Pajamas,
“bush league with fortune cookie mantras and sub-high school reading skills.”
This from the guy who couldn’t write his way out of a paper bag?
Mike
Short end of the stick? Yes. But please save your assumptions about professors and administrators playing in a zero sum game for your teabagger friends.
PJ, That mirror in your bathroom, do you see a resemblance to the south bound end of a north bound horse? Only zeroes are your posts, insistent untruths repeated over and over, like you can make them reality.
The faculty and students were short changed; it’s the administration’s fault.
Every point Kathleen made in her first post at the top is absolutely correct. Worth rereading Mike and pajamas.
And, Patriot, I hope you have by now read the title of this thread, which is regarding CSUs.
Kathleen,
I take extreme exception to the idea that the south facing end of a north bound horse is in fact traveling in a southerly direction. No horse could qualify in such a feat of physical exertion unless they were outfitted with a telescoping spine! You must be a Tea Party member!
Well, there you have it. Kath says it’s the administration’s fault because it’s the administration’s fault. As a subscriber to teabaggie ‘philosophy’ she’s compelled to look no farther than SOME target that receives taxpayer support. Protect the rich, protect the rich, it MUST be the administration’s fault. Middlle Rager. Yes! Yes! It’s the administration’s fault because it’s the administration’s fault. “Down with USC and other public institutions!” Mike the bush league, part-time JC instructor reminds us that CSU isn’t UC before he then offers an insightful cliche: “You can’t write yourself out of a paper bag!” Stacey, always Kath’s water carrier, has nothing of substance to offer, only gibberish in hopes of earning redemption for all the embarrassment she must suffer for her earlier posts. What a crew! You all deserve one another.
Gollum, The rich didn’t deny the raises, the administration did, while happily giving themselves a bump in pay and upping fees for students and their families, who likely aren’t rich. It must take hours of your day to tie and untie yourself from these knotty bits of fantasy.