Lecturers Exempted from Furlough Program

We were given official notice last week that the Office of the President has decided that Unit 18 will NOT participate in the furlough program.

This exemption is a product of the fact that UCOP has determined that Senate Faculty cannot take furlough time during instructional time. Since Unit 18 lecturers only do instructional work, there is no way to apply the furlough plan to members of this unit.

UC instead is realizing budgetary savings from Unit 18 through a very significant number of layoffs and non-reappointments, as campuses and programs cut back and/or reorganize their course offerings. This process remains a huge threat to our members.

We also anticipate that the University will try to recapture funds it could not take away via furloughs by proposing salary reductions when the Unit 18 contract reopens this coming winter.

In sum, while furloughs have been avoided at this moment, enormous problems remain. We need help to mobilize effectively to protect education and our members. Please be on the look out for opportunities to become involved. We will be holding informational meetings at each quarter campus in the next three weeks.