Union coalition lobbies to prevent UC cutbacks

Thousands of University of California employees are coming
together to voice their concerns regarding the upcoming budget
cuts, hopeful their collective efforts will prevail.

The UC Union Coalition, consisting of several UC systemwide
unions, is working toward holding the University of California
accountable for its financial expenditures, along with making
access to education a priority.

Representing over 70,000 employees, the coalition has taken
measures to approach legislators with a specific agenda regarding
the upcoming budget proposal.

Most recently, the coalition held a lobby day in Sacramento late
last month, and representatives said they would continue these
efforts throughout the year. The American Federation of State,
County and Municipal Employees recently held its own lobby day in
Sacramento on Monday.

“Essentially it’s about accountability,” said
Coalition of University Employees President Claudia Horning. The
university employees union, made up entirely of clerical employees,
is one of the members of the UC Union Coalition.

Some of these demands consist of preventing the cuts to outreach
programs, eliminating fee increases for students, and protecting
top jobs by eliminating subcontracting and providing wage parity to
employees.

But the crucial point on the agenda of the entire coalition is
the demand for thorough monitoring of the UC’s fiscal
responsibilities.

Horning, along with other members of the coalition, said the
state of California should hold the university accountable for
where the state’s money is being spent.

“The university has not had a lot of oversight from the
Legislature, and we suspect and hope that may change,”
Horning said.

Coalition members are calling for oversight in the distribution
of state funds.

According to a Coalition of University Employees news release,
the UC’s ability to prevent the fee hikes and cutbacks on
student programs and academic services is “not contingent
upon state funding.”

Those at the University of California Office of the President
disagree.

“We are heavily reliant on state funding,” said
Hanan Eisenman, a UCOP spokesman.

While 21 percent of the UC’s total revenue comes from
state funds, 64 percent of that state support goes toward the core
education budget, Eisenman said.

The core educational budget funds all academic programs and
services across the UC campuses.

The coalition has also raised concern regarding the continual
decrease in staff wages as executive salaries continue to
significantly increase, associating the problem with inappropriate
distribution of funds.

“We are paid less on every level than people who work in
the Cal-State University system”, said Margy Wilkinson,
statewide chief steward for the clerical union.

As a result, union organizers have come together to find ways to
address legislators to encourage the adoption of their proposed
agenda.

The University Professional and Technical Employees union has
organized meetings, participated in letter-writing and phone-call
campaigns, and attended rallies in efforts to educate its members
and the community about the issues.

“It’s important for the employees and the members of
(University Professional and Technical Employees) and all the
unions to participate in these actions, because it’s when we
all work together that we get the best results,” said Rita
Kern, president of the UCLA chapter of the University Professional
and Technical Employees union.

During the municipal union’s lobby day earlier this week,
various members of the federation spoke with different legislators
regarding the budget crisis.

“We’re all state employees and all affected by the
issue,” said AFSCME president Lakesha Harrison.

Bringing in union member and student support is crucial in
making a difference and effectively talking with legislators, added
Harrison.

“You can send press releases and letters, and it’s
all good to a point, but we sometimes feel like you have to put a
face to it. We really want (the legislators) to see the people and
(see) that the people are fighting,” Harrison said.

All three unions are waiting to undergo contract negotiations
with the university over the next few months.