CSUEU4U by Pat Gantt

Budget New Year 2010

It has been a while since I posted anything on this account.  To say that I have been busy would be an understatement.  The layoffs within the CSU on over a third of the campuses has kept me plenty busy as well as the other demands on my time.

I have been reading a lot on the current state budget crisis.  I say current only because there are always a few new twists with each fiscal year in California.  That said, the budget crisis is a ongoing rollover from year to year.  The problem has been addressed through a band aid approach and the band aid usually falls off by the next year.  Once the band aid is off there is another open wound showing and the legislators are willing to open a new box of band aids.

I understand budget cuts when you do not have money. What I do not understand is the tax breaks and loop holes created over time with no foresight to the future. So, now we have the Governor proposing deep cuts to almost eliminate welfare and most of in home service care.  I am becoming more and more uneasy about California.  I was born here and took great pride in what it had to offer its citizens.  Now I wonder: Will California only remember being the Golden State?

Budget Cuts and Furloughs

The depth of the state budget crisis has reached deep into the CSU as it is now faced with the prospect of furloughs like other state workers have been dealing with since last February.  Each year of the budget cycle I look at the impacts and solutions, but the cuts get deeper and deeper.  The economy is bad, but even in good times the state failed to recognize the need for revenue to bolster its accounts for the downturns.  The Governator added to the problem 7 years ago when he cut the Vehicle fees downward.  That tax cut had the affect of removing $5 billion each year in state revenue. If you do the math that would leave us $35 billion ahead in the current budget crisis if the funds were collected and saved.  Thank you Arnold!

Sooner or later, we will have to find some solutions.  One of the first things to fix is the two-thirds requirement to pass a budget.

CSU Budget Cuts and Furloughs

The state budget problem has reached deep into the California State University(CSU) with a 20% reduction in the state general fund support budget to the tune of $583,816,000.  This has the CSU poised to either address some of the cuts through furloughs or layoffs.  A budget cut through a furlough program allows many to keep jobs but with a reduction in salary for timeoff each month.  The layoff approach takes the cuts in whole positions and employees end up out of a job and benefits.  Either option is a not a choice one should have, but they are both realities in a harsh economy.

The public sector workforce is under attack across the United States as cities, counties and states struggle with decreased revenue and budget cuts.  Public employees are targets because most of the public may not identify with them and are envious of their salaries, benefits and pensions.  The public enjoys the services provided by the public workers, but is reluctant to pay for them as they take them for granted.

The University used to seem far away from the budget turmoil and the constant threat of cuts.  Yes, there have been cuts over the past 20 years, but those cuts seem superficial to the cuts aimed at the CSU system this year.

It is my belief that the furlough process is the best option for the CSU to consider to keep the cornerstone of the postions in place and to function as a university that may be slightly scaled back.  The layoff approach would mandate deep cuts to programs and people as chunks of the dedicated campus workforce is forced onto the street with little career prospects elsewhere.
 In the end, each union must decide its course and each employee must weigh all options.  The bigger question is: are you willing to be an integral part of a campus community and band to together in tough times with furloughs or individually take your chances as the campus administration rolls the dice to start the layoff process and picks departments and classifications to cut or eliminate?  Time will tell what the right choice will be and if you get a state check or an IOU unemployment check.

My Re-Election as CSUEU/SEIU Local 2579 President

The election process is always a little scary as one looks inward for what the correct thing to say is or if you missed an important issue in communications or discussions.  The last few weeks with state budget turmoil and cuts to the CSU has tested every one of the CSUEU chapter leaders and our members.  It was clear to me that there is a new cohesiveness and unity in the CSUEU.  This was evident throughout the weekend in every aspect of our meetings.  In the chapter reports, we heard 24 chapters report about the attendance at their meetings was up and people are joining and thankful for the information on the budget with the opportunity to give feedback.

As the returning CSUEU President, the challenge now is to keep the momentum and member engagement at this level.  I think we are equal to the task and I am very honored and proud to serve another term for a union that engages and listens to it membership.  The challenges are many but hard work and unity will help us through these times and into a better future.

In Union,
Pat Gantt, President
CSUEU/SEIU Local 2579

Why Am I Running for CSUEU President-2009

Many people ask me: why do you want to run for CSUEU President again?  That is a good question and I have a pretty good answer:   I want to continue to serve the members and build the CSUEU into to a model union in California.
The CSUEU has faced its share of challenges over the years as we evolved with collective bargaining within CSEA, were successful in getting fair share fees, incorporated in 2005 as the CSUEU and started crafting our own identity as a union.  I have been involved since 1991 and enjoyed the successes as well as the challenges along the way.
I was there when we took a stand against performance pay and worked hard to remove it from the contract after an implementation by the CSU in 1996.  I was there when we got a fair share bill signed by Gray Davis in 1999 that became effective in January 2000.  The CSU Division of CSEA was the first CSU union to start collecting the fees.  We were the only union that held fair share fee forums on the CSU campuses to present the organization to the fee payers and address issues.  I was one of the main proponents of that effort as the Unit 9 chair along with the rest of the leadership.  It was a bold move, but the right thing to do!
The current budget crisis and cuts to the CSU are mind numbing. However, the CSUEU moved quickly to engage the membership on the issue of furloughs in a very short time frame with polls, surveys and a member advisory vote.  This effort was not a single act of one person but that of a unified body of leaders dedicated to its members.  I want this effort to continue and want to build upon it every way possible.
One area I would like to concentrate on for the next two years is leadership development.  The CSUEU must reinvest in its leadership and activists.  Too often organizations take for granted the skills and experience of their leaders only to realize huge gaps when people retire or leave.  I want to ensure that the CSUEU never suffers this gap.  We need to protect ourselves from burnout and find new ways to get new activists.  We also must take steps to build a better model to prevent some conflicts that crop up and threaten our union from within its ranks.

I ask for you vote on June 28, 2009
In Union,
Pat Gantt

Union Resume

Union Resume

 

Over 19 years experience at state level with CSEA/CSU Division and CSUEU and working with other unions within the CSU system.

 

1991-present-Active steward with more than 120 filed grievances and complaints.

 

1991 Main plaintiff in a class action Overtime lawsuit with over 200 employees that changed Overtime rules in the CSU system.

1991 CSU, Chico layoff bargaining proposed first 11/12 pay plan that mitigated layoffs.

1991-present Active Steward at state and chapter level.

1992-present  Member, CSU Division/CSUEU Bargaining Team

1991-1993   Bargaining Unit 9 Vice Chair CSEA/CSU Division

1991-2003   Bargaining Unit 9 Representative Chapter 302-Chico

1993-2003   Bargaining Unit 9 Chair CSEA/CSU Division

1993-present   Member CSU Division/CSUEU Representation committee

1993-present   CSEA General Council Delegate

1998-2006   Chief Steward-Chapter 302

1999 Trainer for basic steward training that trained over 100 stewards statewide.

1999-2002  Chair, CSU Communications Committee

1998-present   Chair, CSU Labor Council representing all CSU unions.

2003-Present   CSU Division Director/ CSUEU President

• Directed program to reach incorporated status for the CSUEU
• Implemented a balanced two year budget that avoided dues increase
• Negotiated first service agreement with CSEA
• Negotiated a settlement agreement with SEIU and CSEA that returned over 3 million in funds and rebated fees.
• Proposed a separate CSEA website for the Pension Battle.
• Planned and implemented a proactive bargaining strategy that mitigated over 90% of the planned layoffs in 2004.
• Proposed new CSEA Board structure adopted by CSEA Board and General Council delegates
• Improved Standing committee work to make all programs more effective
• Worked with other staff unions to get additional 1% in the 2006/07         compensation from CSU.
• Rallied other unions and Chancellor’s Office to fight cuts in late stages of         07/08 budget process.

2006-7 Co-Chair CSEA Bargaining Team-UAW Bargaining Negotiated with CSEA Staff  Union                        
2009-Chair CSEA Bargaining Team-UAW Bargaining a full contract

 

May 2009-State Budget/Special Election/CSUEU elections

I have started up writing this blog again for a couple reasons. First,The state budget crisis will be more compressed as the Legislature has to deal will a shortfall that was not anticipated before the special election ballot measures were drafted. I want to become more disciplined in sharing my thoughts and observations in how things digress or progress after the special election over the next 60 days.The Legislature seems poised to act before the end of June to find another budget solution. Second, and equally important, I need to share my own personal views on a variety of issues on why I want to continue to serve in the role of CSUEU President for another two years.

The Future

The CSUEU like every union is at a point in time to evaluate its programs, resources and do some planning. The rich 75 year history of CSEA gives us a sound foundation to work from and some experience. However, the changing environment of the politics in California also presents new challenges as well as new opportunities.

The use of technology in the labor movement has been slowly increasing over the past two decades. Many unions now have secure websites with resources for activists and members only. We should assign some resources to the development of better on line support for our stewards and activists. There is an unlimited potential to convert some of our trainings to on line and provide more ongoing training.

What if the CSUEU developed a steward hotline where stewards could talk to someone live regarding a representation issue? Yes, there are cell phones, voicemail and email we already use. How much time is spent playing phone tag with voicemail over a simple question.

What if every staff member had a smartphone that had email and could access their email from anywhere? This could save some time in getting responses when CSUEU staff are on chapter visits and not at their computer.

What if we developed a system of videoconferencing where chapter leadership could meet with statewide leadership or staff to discuss local and state wide issues. The technology exists and some unions have started to utilize this to improve communications and save on travel.

These are just a few examples of "what ifs". I want to take the what ifs and make them a priority to improve our programs and service to the membership. Improving the contact with the membership and increasing their involvement in the union needs to be our goal. Other unions in the CSU already recognize our ability to turn out the members on planned events. We need to refine that ability and build on it.

If we can adapt and adopt many of the new tools into our programs we can be more effective. The challenge and costs associated with a statewide organization have stifled the CSUEU in the past. I think that we can take those challenges and apply technology to make us stronger.

What Kind of California Do You Want?

The current state budget battle drags on with the Senate Republicans proposing major cuts.  So far, the CSU budget is not targeted but that is due to a major lobbying effort by the CSUEU and all the other CSU unions. It is important to look at where the state spends its money.  Look at the relative costs of the spending and think who benefits.  Then ask yourself: Is the CSU and Higher Education is funded appropriately?

The following table shows how the state allocates funds and the impacts:

State Budget 2006-07

 

	Number of Participants (In Thousands)	Average Cost Per Participant
		General Fund	Total Government
Corrections
Adults	174	$36,600	$36,600
Youths	3	140,000	145,000
Education—Studentsa
K-12	5,957	$6,576	$11,264
Community Colleges	1,181	3,473	5,499
CSU	334	8,345	10,610
UCb	182	16,998	20,231
Health and Social Services—Beneficiaries
Medi-Cal	6,665	$1,836	$3,671
SSI/SSP	1,241	2,917	7,210
CalWORKs	1,191	1,582	4,257
Healthy Families	859	429	1,186
In-Home Supportive Services	378	3,522	10,549
Regional centersc	212	9,840	15,259
Foster Care	75	5,677	21,159
Developmental centers	3	136,137	248,487
a  K-12 participants are in average daily attendance and higher education participants are in full-time equivalents.
b  Excludes medical schools.
c  Includes funds for the Habilitation Services Program.