CFA report to the Academic Senate
February 14, 2008
AGREEMENT REACHED ON EQUITY PAY PROGRAM
TheAdministrative Oversight Committee on Equity Increases (CFA and CSU administration) concluded bargaining on the pay equity issue. More details should follow forthcoming by the end of the first week in February.
The following is a portion of the joint announcement issued by the committee announcing their agreement for addressing the salary inversion issue:
“We are pleased that we have successfully completed the negotiations on the 2007/2008 equity program detailed in Article 31.17 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The two bargaining teams worked cooperatively for over six months to reach an agreement: the issues proved more complex than anyone thought they would be at the outset. The program meets with conditions of the contract in that it applies to eligible members of the specific groups: assistant professors, and similarly situated counselors, coaches and librarians. The recipients of the program will receive payments no later than May 1, 2008, retroactive to July 1, 2007 where applicable.”
THE STATE BUDGET AND THE CSU
Among the mobilization efforts by CFA against the proposed budget cuts will be a town hall forum at CSUN tentatively scheduled for April 3. We will be inviting elected officials, community college representatives, and community and student organization to discuss the state of “public higher education”. Please keep an eye out for further communication on this event.
We are also encouraging members to write letters to their state legislators and the governor. Letters to the editor play an important role in CFA’s efforts to advocate for higher education. By sending a letter you can help assignment editors know that you – the reader, viewer or listener – are interested in a particular topic and encourage the media outlet to continue to report on that topic.
To find out more about sending a letter to the editor, go to:
CSUN MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT EFFORTS
Past president of the CSUN CFA chapter, Dave Ballard will be part of a recruitment campaign at CSUN. Keep an eye out for him. If you would be willing to join our efforts, please contact Dave.
EXECUTIVE WATCH- APPEALS COURT HEARS MUNITZ ‘OPEN MEETINGS’ CASE
The Court of Appeal heard CFA's challenge, under the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, to CSU Chancellor Charles Reed's decision to convene the Board of Trustees in closed session to discuss the return of former CSU Chancellor and disgraced President of the Paul Getty Trust, Barry Munitz, to a tenured faculty position within the CSU.
Justice Laurence Rubin complimented CFA counsel Glenn Rothner for a "well-structured" and "effective" oral argument. Rubin and the two other justices heard Rothner's argument that the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act allows the Trustees to meet in closed session only if they are to discuss an employment decision. Rothner explained that, according to deposition testimony of Chancellor Reed, no employment decision was at issue because Munitz's return to the CSU was automatic under a since discontinued and very generous post-retirement program for senior administrators.
Rothner held that the stated reason for convening in closed session was essentially to control the public relations fall-out due to Munitz's return to the CSU.
Susan Westover, counsel for CSU, argued in contrast that the statute allows the Trustees to meet in closed session whenever employment—but not necessarily an employment decision—is to be discussed. Rothner argued that such a broad interpretation of the statute would all but eviscerate its intended goal to ensure transparent government.
The Court took the case under submission and will render a decision in the near future.
AGENCY/“FAIR SHARE” FEE
Faculty members who are Agency Fee/"Fair Share" payers (rather thanCFA members) should take note that there are changes that will be implemented soon in the way in which agency fees are collected.
The CFA office has designated an email address to which comments and questions should be sent. It is:
Please advise colleagues who call or write to use that email address. We will make sure each email message sent to this address receives a prompt and courteous response.
Since some of our colleagues are unclear on how the money is used, please note that CFA member dues and “Fair Share”/agency fees are not used to contribute money to politicians.Member dues and “Fair Share”/agency fees are used to bargain and enforce the contract that benefits every faculty member, and to advocate with the public on issues of concern to the CSU faculty. You can learn more about this in the “Hudson Notice” that you recently received in the mail. You also can see that notice at
We hope that faculty will consider the necessary role CFA plays in serving the CSU faculty during difficult times that challenge each of us in our effort to support our families and deliver quality education to California’s students.
We strongly urge agency fee payers to open and read the HudsonNotice.
The new policy does not affect those who are CFA members.
CFA magazine
The Winter 2007/08 edition of California Faculty magazine has bee distributed to your campus mailbox. The magazine can also be viewed at:
UPCOMING EVENTS
February 29 & March 7
CFA District Lobby Days– contact your CFA chapter office to participate, talk with state legislators about the CSU budget
March 5 & March 6
Lecturer's Know Your Rights, Noon - 2pm --- Monica Turner is the CFA contact person
March 13-15
CFA Equity Conference: Building Power Through Diversity & Equity
CFA’s Council for Affirmative Action will hold its biennial Equity Conference in March and is encouraging all faculty members interested in promoting diversity to attend. ”
To find out more about the conference, go to:
NEA will hold a joint conference with AFT (American Federation of Teachers) in WashingtonDC in late March.For more info go to:
April 21
CSSA march at the State Capitol about the CSU budget
April 30
Celebration of Scholarship Dinner at CSUN,5:00pm - 9:00pm
Respectfully submitted,
Theresa Montaño
CFA CSUN Chapter President