Budget Update

Posted 10/20/08

Colleagues:

The California State University system (which includes San Francisco State) has reopened its contract with the California Faculty Association and can be expected to seek to renegotiate the wage increases that had been set for this academic year, 2008-09.  The contract provides for a 3% general raise, effective July 1^st as well as a 2.65% raise to lower paid faculty in each academic rank, effective on our anniversary dates. 

CFA was required by state law to provide that our contract could be reopened, if CSU revenues were unexpectedly low.  In compliance with that law, the contract provides that CSU can reopen the contract if the state budget does not provide it with the amount stipulated in the compact CSU had made with Governor Schwarzenegger in 2004. 

When the governor first proposed the 2008-09 CSU budget last January, he proposed approximately a $300 million cut in the CSU budget.  Despite the success of the Alliance for CSU in restoring $97.6 million to the governor's January budget, the 2008-09 state budget did not provide the amount stipulated in his compact CSU and the system has exercised the provision to reopen our agreement. 

An additional complicating factor in this situation is that the 2008-09 state budget itself could be reopened.  The $97.6 million we restored could be subject to revision.  We won't know until after the November elections if this year's budget will be reopened, but this is a distinct possibility. 

The CFA negotiating committee and negotiating strategy committee (in which I participate) have met and are prepared to hear the CSU's reopening proposal.  As soon as we have the proposal, we will notify all faculty of its contents. 

In anticipation of the legislature reconsidering the 2008-09 state budget, its deliberations on the 2009-10 state budget (which will be strongly affected by current economic events), and subsequent state budgets, CFA is increasingly active in politics around the state. 

In the Bay Area, CFA and our San Francisco State chapter are committed to two election campaigns this November.  The first is for local school board member Joan Buchanan (D) who is running for the state legislature from the 15^th Assembly District of east Alameda County.  We have precinct walking days set for Buchanan on October 25 and November 1.  I am heading up our chapter's effort there. 

The second is for CFA and SF State faculty member Eric Mar in the 1^st San Francisco supervisorial district of the Richmond District.  Since many San Francisco supervisors go on to become state legislators, we see backing Eric Mar now as backing a person who could become a pro-higher education legislator in the future.  CFA SF State Chapter Vice President Sheila Tully is planning CFA chapter precinct walks and phone banking for this campaign. 

To reach Sheila Tully or myself and help out, please contact our chapter office at 8-6232 or cfa@sfsu.edu.  We will keep the faculty up-to-date on developments as they occur.