Budget Crisis

The University Council - American Federation of Teachers is committed to protecting access, affordability and quality at the University of California.  The long term trend of defunding of higher education by the State of California has reduced the UC's academic budgets to the point where these three key tenets of our model public university are all in serious jeopardy.  To make matters worse, the leadership of the University of California, headed by UC President Mark Yudof, is framing these fundamental changes to the University as necessary and unavoidable, while failing to advocate in any meaningful way for the continuation of UC's egalitarian tradition.  In fact, the Office of the President has consolidated deep and likely permanent cuts in core instructional areas, while maintaining funding for private and profit making sectors of the University.

UC-AFT advocates the following measures for the reform of higher education funding and UC budget priorities:

State of California

  • Progressive tax reform, including reinstatement of 10% an 11% brackets and closing corporate tax loopholes
  • Oil severance tax
  • Reform of Prop 13
University of California
  • Budgetary and accounting transparency, including access to UC's feduciaries
  • Legitimate and open dialogue about UC's major funding pools including investment accounts and reserves
  • An investigation into the reasons for the rampant growth of administrative and executive positions throughout the system

 

UC-AFT's Proposal for the University of California Budget

Submitted by administrator on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 16:59
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Since Governor Brown has asked for input on how to reduce the costs of administration, several unions have developed a plan. Our idea is that the state should offer to reduce the amount of the $500 million dollar cut by $250 million if the UC uses the following method to reduce its administrative cost:

Impacts of Budget Cuts on UC-AFT Positions

Submitted by administrator on Wed, 06/02/2010 - 14:14
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UC-AFT has been closely tracking the impacts of recent budget cuts on our positions and on our members.  During January and February of 2010 we collected over 500 responses to our survey on layoffs and reductions in time within Unit 18.  The survey provided valuable information about the number of layoffs, but more importantly, respondents gave us detailed information about how the cuts have affected workload, quality of courses, and the quality of jobs in general.   

March 4 Education Ends with Large Rally in State Capitol

Submitted by administrator on Mon, 04/26/2010 - 11:21
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2nd Statewide Mobilizing Conference to Save Public Education 4/24 in L.A.

Submitted by administrator on Mon, 04/19/2010 - 13:24
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Please click the article title above to see the full announcement for the April 24th Statewide Mobilizing Conference.


March 4th Statewide Day of Action--Californian's Unite to Support Education

Submitted by administrator on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 13:13
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A broad coalition of students, faculty, and staff from K-12, the community colleges, CSU's and UC are uniting in a statewide day of action on March 4th to protest chronic underfunding of education in California, and to demand restoration of access, affordability and quality for all.  UC-AFT and our state affiliate, CFT, have endorsed the actions on March 4th.  We encourage all of our members to take this opportunity to raise awareness about the impacts of the budget cuts on our ability to deliver the highest quality of instruction and service in the classroom and libraries.

Democracy Now Coverage Including Interview with Bob Samuels

Submitted by administrator on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 16:11
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UC-AFT President, Bob Samuels, was interviewed by Amy Goodman on Democracy Now.  The interview covers the protests at UCLA on November 18 and 19.  Bob discusses UC finances and the impacts of regental and UCOP priorities on undergraduate education.

Here is the full Democracy Now coverage including great interviews from UCB, including UC-AFT member and Lecturer, Michael Cohen.

Fee Increase Passes Despite Opposition and Protest

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The Regents passed a 32% fee increase at their meeting on November 19 at UCLA.  Student fees at UC will reach $10,300 not including various campus based fees that will raise the cost of attendance to nearly $13,000, not including housing, food, and books.  The decision to increase fees was made in the face of significant opposition and protest by UC students and workers who feel that the budget deficit is being balanced on the backs of those who can least afford it.

Fee Increase Passes Despite Opposition and Protest

Submitted by administrator on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 14:57
in

The Regents passed a 32% fee increase at their meeting on November 19 at UCLA.  Student fees at UC will reach $10,300 not including various campus based fees that will raise the cost of attendance to nearly $13,000, not including housing, food, and books.  The decision to increase fees was made in the face of significant opposition and protest by UC students and workers who feel that the budget deficit is being balanced on the backs of those who can least afford it.

Saving Public Education: Lesson Plans

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In order to promote critical thinking and raise awareness about the current budget situation affecting public education, we encourage you to take 10 minutes each week to educate students about what is currently going on at UC and beyond. UC-AFT Local 2199 members will be working to provide many lesson plans to come to get your students thinking about what is at stake for them and their families.

 Lesson Plan #1: The Yudof Interview

9/24 to 11/17- The Struggle To Save UC

Submitted by administrator on Mon, 10/05/2009 - 16:35
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With most of the budget reductions planned or in place, the remaining budget balancing mechanism proposed by UC is an additional 30% fee increase that would be phased in over the coming year.  These fee increases would generate $117 million for 09/10 and $292 million for 10/11. UC President Yudof is already campaigning for the fee increase in the media and he's focusing his message directly at the students.  Here's a link to an essay based on his comments at the Regents meeting on September 16th.  

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