By snoadmin
Budget cuts have played a detrimental role in California higher education, not only for the students, but also for the faculty.
Last Wednesday, the California Faculty Association — a Cal State faculty union — announced the rather historic decision to hold a one-day strike, pending union approval, in response to Chancellor Charles Reed’s refusal to pay previously negotiated pay raises, as explained in a CFA news letter. The union went on to explain that the strike would solely be about wages; however, given our economic state, is a strike necessary? Maybe not.
The previously negotiated prices come from a compromise proposal between university administrators and the CFA. Raises for both 2008-09 and 2009-10 were stalled when the state began to drastically cut education funds.
The Daily 49er reported Thursday that CFA president Lillian Taiz asked faculty to join union members at CSU East Bay and CSU Dominguez Hills on Nov. 17 for “concerted action,” as well as informational picketing on Nov. 8 or 9.
CFA spokesman Brian Ferguson stated that “concerted action” could mean additional informational picketing as well as a strike that could result in the shutting down of campuses.
At least one fact-finder report sided with the CFA, endorsing a 1.3 percent increase.
This is the CFA’s first organized strike, but taking the circumstances into account, a strike could be pushing the envelope.
Cal State officials explained that the CSU system has lost almost $1 billion dollars since 2008, and thus does not have the money to implement the discussed raises.
It’s not at all that the CFA doesn’t deserve a raise, but right now may not be the best time to push so urgently for raises. Having a pay raise stalled is frustrating; however, budget cuts are no joke. Students have suffered the loss of class availability, teachers as well resources, so stalling a pay raise is merely another funding cut side affect.
“We reduced classes and employees were forced to take a 10% pay cut in the form of furloughs,” spokesman Mike Uhlenkamp said about the fact-finding report. “So to say money was available is not accurate. And now there’s even less money.”
Also, the CFA contract discusses pay raises, but specifies renegotiation based on economic conditions. If we consider this, then it’s pretty understandable that pay raises had to be stalled. We really are in a tight place when it comes to money, and this should be respected.
“During a year in which the CSU is grappling with a $650 million mid-year cut, the CSU’s priorities must remain resolutely focused on serving as many students as possible while retaining as many jobs as possible,” wrote CSU collective bargaining director Bill Candela.
If classes weren’t being cut and teachers weren’t being laid off, then yes, the strike would be much more understandable. It’s been blatantly apparent, however, that we are struggling right now.
Even more, if the CFA does get a raise right now, that means our university will need to figure out where to get that money from, further complicating our economic state.
Teachers deserve to be paid more, undoubtably. They play a very important role in all of our lives. But, patience is a virtue. We can’t afford pay raises right now, but they’ll come in time.
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