The proposals currently being offered by the UC Commission on the Future would limit access by reducing enrollments, shift costs to undergraduates through increased fees, and further erode quality by reducing teaching staff and rushing degrees via online courses and increased reliance on summer sessions.
From UC to DC: Solutions to the Faux Budget Crisis by Marcy Winograd
Last year, when I spoke at the UCLA rally to protest tuition hikes, I noticed the blinds close across Covell Commons, where the University of California's Board of Regents met in secrecy. As students waved signs that read "Instruction, Not Construction" and "Free UC" and "UC Has Billions", the Regents unilaterally decided to hike student fees 32%, ostensibly to close an ever-widening budget gap exacerbated by the recession.
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.
Submitted by administrator on June 2, 2010 - 12:05pm
In spring of 2008, UC‐AFT and UC agreed to new language in Article 6 of Unit 17 MOU that for the first time gives librarians a contractual mechanism for controlling their own workload. Article 6.A. states that a librarian’s workload cannot be unreasonable, or excessive.
Submitted by administrator on May 18, 2010 - 8:14am
Beginning in 2009, lecturer positions throughout the UC system have been targeted by campus administrators as easy cost saving measures. Since Spring quarter 2009, UC-AFT’s Unit 18 has decreased in size by 11%. Nearly all of this reduction came from pre-six job titles that do not require layoff notice. These positions are simply not renewed. In addition to the pre-six non-renewals, layoff notices have been issued to hundreds of continuing appointees throughout the system. Many of these notices are reductions in time, but dozens are full layoffs.
UC Regent designate Charlene Zettel was confirmed by the CA Senate on May 6 with the minimum number of votes possible for confirmation. After 3 roll calls, Zettel finally received the essential 21 votes required.
Zettel was opposed by the UC Union Coalition due to her anti-worker voting record as a state assembly member in the early 2000's, and her refusal to commit to joint governance of UCRP. The union coalition launched a last minute effort to convince democratic senators that as a Regent Zettel would not act in the interests of UC students or workers.
