UC-AFT Insider February 2009
UC‐AFT Insider
February 2, 2009
In this issue:
• 2009‐2010 Curriculum Plans and Budget Reductions…A Collective Response
• UC Librarians Take Library Funding to the Web
• UC Proposal for 2% Pension Contribution
• AFSCME Service Workers Get 64 Million Dollar Contract
• UC‐AFT Member Spotlight‐ A History of Immigrant Labor in O.C., Curated by Daniel Tsang
• Know Your Rights‐ Priority and Process Concerning NSF and TA Appointments
2009‐2010 Curriculum Plans and Budget Reductions…A Collective Response
Deans throughout the UC system have issued calls for 2009/10 curriculum plans that include
severe budget reductions, some as high as 20%. UC‐AFT is actively responding to these calls by
scheduling meetings with campus Labor Relations and Dean’s offices to discuss strategic
reductions, and to ensure that the rights of our members are fully considered throughout this
process. We want to ensure that Lecturers with continuing appointments are only let go in the
most dire of circumstances, and that our lay‐off article is followed closely. Ultimately, the
university cannot rely on short‐term solutions that cut funds essential to the delivery of
instruction. UC‐AFT will continue to advocate for the rights of our members, and for a quality
education for UC students. Please be in contact with your Local union officers and staff if you
have any concerns as the budget and curriculum process unfolds.
UC Librarians Take Library Funding to the Web
UC Librarians are in contract negotiations with the University. After several bargaining sessions,
including copious evidence of pay lags, and declining quality in the UC’s libraries, a UC bargainer
recently stated, “UC Librarians are simply not a priority for UC.” For detailed information on the
status of UC libraries, library funding, and librarian salaries, please follow the link below. Don’t
forget to sign our on‐line petition in support of librarian contract negotiations.
UC Proposal for 2% Pension Contribution
UC Regents will consider a proposal to begin employee and employer contributions to UCRP at
their February 5 meeting. Under the proposal, contributions would begin April 15, 2010. Please
follow this link for more on this item.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/19391
AFSCME and UC Agree to a New Contract for Service Workers
AFSCME and UC have agreed to a contract worth over 64 million dollars in wages over the life of
the five‐year agreement. Follow these links for more information from AFSCME and UC.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/19410
UC‐AFT Member Spotlight
Immigrant Lives in O.C. and Beyond – Curated by UCI Librarian, Daniel Tsang
UC Irvine Librarian Daniel Tsang has curated an exhibit on immigration and labor in Orange
County. The exhibit examines the history of immigration in the County since the 19th century,
highlighting immigrants' own stories, the plight of the undocumented, public policy issues, and
the role of gender in migration. Tsang emigrated from Hong Kong in the 1960’s, and joined UCI
in 1986, so the exhibit is reflective of his life as well as his work. In fact, many of displayed
materials come from his personal collection from rallies and other events in O.C. “I believe it is
important to be both an archivist and an activist; I am happy that in this exhibit, I am able to
bring both my work and my activism together, in highlighting the contributions made by workers
in creating a now very diverse O.C.” Housed in the Muriel Ansley Reynolds Exhibit Gallery, the
exhibit will be on display in the main lobby of Langson Library until May 2009. For more
information on the exhibit follow this link:
http://www.uci.edu/features/feature_immigrationexhibit_081114.php
Know Your Rights‐ Priority and Process Concerning NSF and TA Appointments
Since 2003, the Unit 18 MOU has protected NSF appointments from replacement by graduate
students by restricting the hiring of TAs from other departments and unrelated disciplines. A
recent grievance settlement from UCI clarifies the extent of the consultative process, and the
timing required for an appointment that would displace a NSF. According to Article 7a.C.2.c, any
time a department proposes to replace a NSF with a TA, it must first go through a regular
consultative process that includes more than one administrator, and be able to provide
documentation of the process. According to Article 7b.B.2.b, in order to appoint a TA in the
place of a NSF at the time of review for a continuing appointment, the TA must be from within
the department, or related discipline, or be appointed according to an academic plan for
pedagogical training. Such an appointment has to be designated during the academic year prior
to the year in which the work is to be performed. See links to Articles 7a and 7b below.
Article 7a
http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/policies_employee_labor_relations/collective_bargai
ning_units/nonsenateinstructional_nsi/mou/article7a.html
Article 7b
http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/policies_employee_labor_relations/collective_bargai
ning_units/nonsenateinstructional_nsi/mou/article7b.html
Membership
If you have not already joined the union, please fill out the attached membership form, or
download one from our website. You are represented by UC‐AFT, but representation and
deductions from your pay do not mean that you are automatically a member. You can mail the
completed application to the address on the bottom of the form, or contact your local staff for
assistance.
http://www.cft.org/uploads/uc/docs/memberform.pdf
The University Council – American Federation of Teachers is an affiliate of the California
Federation of Teachers, the American Federation of Teachers and the AFLCIO.