From CFA:

Colleagues,

There have been a lot of rumors flying around campus the last few weeks. Some of these have some basis in fact, some are quite incorrect.

We'd like to take a moment and tell you what is going on, what is NOT going on, and most importantly what you can do about it--the attached flier announces two events: on campus 4/20 at noon in the library quad, and at the State Capitol on 4/21 at 4pm to welcome the CFT marchers, who started in Bakersfield on March 5th.

Rumor 1: Furloughs will come back next year. Status: INCORRECT.

The furloughs that faculty approved last July will expire on June 30th 2010. If the administration wants to renew furloughs, they will have to make a proposal and the faculty would have to vote on it. So far the administration has not proposed any further furloughs, and their budget planning has all assumed no further furloughs. The administration may seek new furloughs over the summer, as they did last year, but whether the faculty would approve a new plan is very much in question.

Rumor 2: Layoffs will be announced over the summer. Status: MOSTLY INCORRECT.

Layoffs of tenured, tenure track, FERPing, and full time lecturer faculty require specific advanced notification stipulated in the contract [Tenured=180 days, Tenure Track=90 days, FERP=60 days, Lecturers=45 days]. Thus, notifications for layoffs due to "lack of funds" will have to go out over the summer or before (we are past the notification date for Tenured faculty).

Rumor 3: Sarah Palin will speak at CSU Stanislaus in June. Status: TRUE

The Stanislaus foundation is paying an undiscolosed fee to Palin to speak at a fundraiser. According to the Huffington Post, the records of her speaking fee have now been shredded. http://www.sacbee.com/2010/04/13/2675761/calif-students-find-palin-contract.html

Rumor 4: Our contract is up for renewal. Status: TRUE

Our contract is set to expire June 30th. As you recall, the Chancellor's Office re-opened salary negotiations for both 08/09 and 09/10. We proceeded through fact-finding, and the report will be released later this week. Based on the outcome of that report, we then expect the Chancellor's Office to extend a "last, best, and final offer." At that point, if we do not accept it, they can impose the terms, and we will have the opportunity to explore work actions. We then would commence the 09/10 re-opener, which of course would likely have the same outcome. Simultaneously we will start bargaining a successor contract, and proposals will be made public soon. Over 3000 faculty gave input for the new contract, and if the Chancellor's Office does not pay our SSIs, GSIs, and equity from the last two years (which seems likely), that will be a starting point for the next contract.

Rumor 5: An 18% cut is inevitable, we should plan for the worst. Status: INCORRECT.

Programs and Departments have been asked to schedule course offerings under three scenarios of 6%, 12%, and 18% budget cuts. None of these budget cut scenarios include the possibility that Governor Schwartzenegger's proposed $305M budget restoration to the CSU becomes a reality. Though we have another month until the "May Revise" budget comes out, and then the Legislature must vote on the budget, that means that our budget future remains uncertain. The 18% scenario is NOT inevitable. Departments and Programs should, in our view, absolutely NOT be considering any substantial programmatic changes due to potential budget cuts. In fact, the more of us who organize, rally, lobby, and stay vocal on the importance of full funding for the CSU system, the more likely it will be that the Governor's proposal remains in the budget.

To that end, please join us in remaining active and visible! We will join the California Federation of Teachers in their March on Sacramento next week (Tuesday 4/20 on campus in the Library Quad at noon, Wednesday 4/21 at the State Capitol at 4pm, see the flyer below for details), and the week after that we will lobby our representatives on the budget issues (contact cfa-president@csus.edu to get involved). We will also need your help over the summer, so please let us know if you will be available by emailing cfa-president@csus.edu. Join us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=76433036943

Kevin Wehr (President) and Lois Boulgarides (Vice President)

California Faculty Association, Capitol Chapter