THE ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION
COMMITTEE IS CALLED TO ORDER. AH
NOTING THAT WE DO NOT HAVE OH,
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. ALRIGHT SO
THEN, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU
WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROPE.
MEDINA PRESENT OY ARAMBULA.
BLOOM GABRIEL IRWIN. KYLIE.
LEVIN. LOW. SANTIAGO VALID ERAS,
WEBER. DO YOU HAVE A FRIEND?
QUORUM IS NOTED. SO WELCOME TO
THE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER
EDUCATION 77.2 BILL HEARING. I
WILL GO OVER SOME KEY ELEMENT OF
THE STRUCTURE OF TODAY'S
HEARING. DUE TO THE ONGOING
PANDEMIC. WE'RE STILL PRACTICING
PHYSICAL DISTANCING IN THE
HEARING ROOM AND THROUGHOUT THE
CAPITOL BUILDING. WE ARE ONLY
ABLE TO HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER OF
PEOPLE PHYSICALLY PRESENT TO
OBSERVE AND PARTICIPATE DURING
THIS HEARING. IF YOU ARE HERE IN
PERSON, PLEASE NOTE THAT WELL
MASKED ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED.
THEY ARE RECOMMENDED, REGARDLESS
OF VACCINE STATUS. IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO WEAR A MASK AND DO NOT
HAVE ONE. PLEASE NOTE THAT
MASTER AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE
OF THE SECURITY CHECKPOINTS AT
THE ENTRANCE OF THE CAPITOL
BUILDING. WE HAVE A DIFFERENT A
FEW DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR
WITNESS TESTIMONY TODAY. IN
PERSON. OR BY WRITTEN TESTIMONY
UTILIZING THE LEGISLATIVE
PORTAL. FOR IN PERSON OF ANY
MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC IN THE ROOM
WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY ON A BILL.
PLEASE APPROACH THE MICROPHONE
AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. I WOULD
ASK THAT YOU NOT TOUCH THE
MICROPHONE. YOU CAN EXIT THE
HEARING. ONCE YOU FINISHED
TESTIFYING OR RETURN TO YOUR
SEAT. WRITTEN TESTIMONY. PLEASE
NOTE THAT WE ARE ACCEPTING
WRITTEN TESTIMONY THROUGH THE
POSITION LETTER PORTAL, WHICH
CAN BE LOCATED ON THE
COMMITTEE'S WEBSITE. LEAD
WITNESS AND TWEENER TESTIMONY.
KNOW THAT THE GUIDELINE FOR
BILLS HEARD AND COMMITTEES TO
ALLOW TESTIMONY FROM TWO LEAD
WITNESSES AND SUPPORT AND TO
LEAD WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO
SPEAK FOR NO MORE THAN TWO
MINUTES EACH. THERE'S ONLY ONE
LEAD WITNESS. THEY WILL HAVE THE
ENTIRE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK.
STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND ENTITIES
THAT ARE NEITHER IN SUPPORT NOR
IN OPPOSITION WILL BE ALLOWED TO
GIVE TESTIMONY FOR NO MORE THAN
TWO MINUTES WHEN I CALLED FOR
TWEENERS THE MEASURE HAS MORE
THAN TWO ENTITIES AND THE
TWEENER CATEGORY ONLY TWO WILL
BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK FOR TWO
MINUTES EACH. PLEASE NOTE THAT
TESTIMONY IS BEING TIME IF YOU
APPROACH THE TWO MINUTES MARK. I
WILL INTERRUPT AND ASSET YOU
BRING YOUR TESTIMONY TO A CLOSE.
THANK YOU FOR BURYING VARYING
WITH US AS WE IMPLEMENT METHODS
TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE
OF CALIFORNIA WHILE ALSO BEING
MINDFUL AND RESPECTFUL OF THE
PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS THAT WE
ALL FACE. FOR THE MEMBERS IF
YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND OR ASK A
QUESTION TO PROVIDE A COMMENT
AND ASKED IF YOU WOULD RAISE
YOUR HAND AND ACTIVATE YOUR
VOLUME BUTTON ON THE DICE. FOR
THE AUTHOR. FOR THE SENATORS
PRESENTED TODAY. PLEASE PROVIDE
AN OPENING AND CLOSING
STATEMENTS. ADDITIONALLY AS I
PREVIOUSLY STATED, YOUR LEAD
WITNESS WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO
PROVIDE TESTIMONY. WE HAVE ONLY
ONE MEASURE TODAY. AND THAT'S
THE 77.2 HEARING ON THE AGENDA
TODAY. SO AT THIS TIME, I WILL
CALL SENATOR LEYVA FORWARD. AND
pWHENEVER SHE'S READY. GOOD
MORNING, MR CHAIR. GOOD MORNING
MEMBERS. ALRIGHT? WELCOME VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU, JOSE. I DID NOT
SEE YOU ON THE FIVE A.M. FLIGHT
THIS MORNING. I COME EARLY FIVE
AM WAS PRETTY EARLY IN THE DAY
BEFORE. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING,
AGAIN. MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS. I'D
LIKE TO BEGIN BY ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS, AS
OUTLINED ON PAGE SEVEN OF THE
ANALYSIS ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR AND YOUR STAFF FOR
WORKING ON THIS ISSUE,
ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A SHORT TIME
FRAME. SB 4 10 REQUIRES THE
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY TO
IMPLEMENT A NINE STEP SALARY
STEP SYSTEM FOR ALL NON FACULTY
EMPLOYEES IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
$2 MILLION WAS INCLUDED IN ORDER
FOR THE CSU CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE
TO EVALUATE THE EXISTING SALARY
STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORT STAFF. THE
STUDY FOUND SIGNIFICANT WAGE
COMPREHENSION AND ON AVERAGE
STAFF. SALARIES ARE 12% BEHIND
THE MEDIUM AVERAGE MEDIAN. IN
ADDITION, THE STUDY FOUND THAT
THE ISSUES IDENTIFIED
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED
WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR
WORKING IN STAFF SUPPORT ROLES
IN 1996, THE CSU UNILATERALLY
DECIDED TO ELIMINATE SALARY
STEPS FOR THEIR STAFF SALARY
STEPS, WHICH HAVE BEEN IN PLACE
FOR OVER 50 YEARS. THEY ARE THE
ONLY STATE AGENCY TO ELIMINATE
SALARY STEPS FOR ITS SUPPORT
STAFF, AND IT'S CURRENTLY THE
ONLY STATE AGENCY THAT DOES NOT
PROVIDE SALARY STEPS. AS A
RESULT, STAFF HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE
TO PROGRESS IN AN EQUITABLE
MANNER COMPARED TO THEIR
COUNTERPARTS. SP 4 10 WILL FIX
THIS UNFAIR SALARY STRUCTURE BY
IMPLEMENTING THE RECENT STUDY
RECOMMENDATIONS AND ENSURING
THAT A SALARY STEP MERIT SYSTEM
IS PUT INTO PLACE FOR THE ISSUE
SUPPORT STAFF. THIS WILL CREATE
PARODY WITH CALIFORNIA'S 233
OTHER STATE AGENCIES AND OVER
210,000 STATE EMPLOYEES BEFORE I
GET TO MY WITNESSES, I JUST WANT
TO SAY THERE'S SOMEONE EVERYBODY
KNOWS WHAT I DID BEFORE I CAME
HERE. CONTRACTS ALWAYS HAD
SALARY STEP INCREASES, AND THIS
IS HOW PEOPLE KNEW IF THEY COULD
BUY RENT AN APARTMENT IF THEY
CAN. MAYBE BUY A HOME IF THEY
COULD GET A NEW CAR WHEN YOU
HAVE NO IDEA WHEN YOUR NEXT
RAISES COMING, IT IS INCREDIBLY
HARD TO PLAN YOUR LIFE. 29 YEARS
AGO, ISSUES ELIMINATED THIS.
THEY'VE HAD THREE DECADES TO
CHANGE THIS PROCEDURE, AND THEY
HAVEN'T I KNOW WE WILL HEAR FROM
MANAGEMENT. THAT MONEY IS AN
ISSUE. I NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT
FOR MANY YEARS. NEVER ONCE DID
MANAGEMENT SAY, MY GOODNESS, WE
ARE FLUSH WITH MONEY, AND WE
WANT TO GIVE RACES TO ALL OF OUR
PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT US.
MANAGEMENT IS ALWAYS GOING TO
SAY THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
MONEY. BUT WHAT DO WE SAY TO THE
PEOPLE WHO DO THE JOB DAY IN AND
DAY OUT AND KEEP OUR C SUS
RUNNING SO THAT WE CAN EDUCATE
THE NEXT GENERATION? SO WITH ME
TODAY TO SPEAK AND SUPPORT IS
VICKY MCLEOD WITH THE CALIFORNIA
STATE UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES UNION
AND JASON RABINOWITZ. WELL, I'M
REPRESENTING TEAMSTERS JOINT
COUNCIL SEVEN. AND WHEN THE TIME
IS RIGHT, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN I VOTE. VICKY. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING
ME TO SPEAK AND SUPPORTIVE. SB 4
10. I WANT TO THANK SENATOR LEVA
FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS
ISSUE. MY NAME IS VICKI MACLEOD
. AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE
STATEWIDE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
FOR THE CALIFORNIA STATE
UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES UNION,
WHICH REPRESENTS THE 16,000 NON
FACULTY STAFF AT THE SEA SUS OUR
WORK IS ESSENTIAL TO STUDENTS
AND FACULTY SUCCESS ON THE CSU
CAMPUSES. BUT WITHOUT A SALARY
STEP SYSTEM. MANY HAVE BEEN
STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
LAST YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE
FUNDED A STUDY TO EXAMINE WAGE
ISSUES AT THE CSU THAT HAVE
PERSISTED SINCE SALARY STEPS
WERE TAKEN AWAY FROM NON FACULTY
STAFF IN 1996. THE INDEPENDENT
CONSULTANT. MERCER CONFIRMS
SIGNIFICANT WAGE STAGNATION AND
SHOWED THAT STAFF SALARIES ARE
12% BEHIND THE MARKET ON
AVERAGE. TO FIX THIS. THE STUDY
RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTING A NINE
STEP MERIT BASED SALARIES SYSTEM
. EARLIER THIS YEAR. WE WORKED
ON A BUDGET REQUEST TO FUND THE
RECOMMENDATION, BUT THE FUNDING
WAS ULTIMATELY REMOVED FROM THE
FINAL BUDGET. SB 4 10 WILL
IMPLEMENT THE SALARY SYSTEM
RECOMMENDED BY THE MERCER STUDY
AND WILL FINALLY PROVIDE NON
FACULTY STAFF WITH COMPETITIVE
WAGES WHILE SICKNESS
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING THE
RACIAL AND GENDER BASED PAY
INEQUITIES THAT EXIST IN THE
SYSTEM. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE
COMMITTEE ANALYSIS RAISES
CONCERN ABOUT POTENTIAL IMPACTS
TO STUDENTS. WE BELIEVE NON
FACULTY STAFF SHOULD BE ABLE TO
MAKE A FAIR LIVING WAGE THAT
COMPLEMENTS THE NEEDS OF
STUDENTS, NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF
THEM. C S U EW IS PREPARED TO
ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE ABOUT SOURCES
OF FUNDING WITHIN C SUS 11
BILLION BUDGET WITHOUT ADVERSELY
IMPACTING OUR STUDENTS. WE HAVE
TRIED EVERY OTHER AVENUE TO
ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. SP 4 10
AND THE MERCER RECOMMENDATIONS
WILL SET CSU ON A POSITIVE AND
EQUITABLE PATH CONSISTENT WITH
CSU'S ROLE AS THE ENGINE ENGINE
OF OPPORTUNITY FOR CALIFORNIA.
NON FACULTY STAFF DESERVE TO BE
PAID A FAIR LIVING WAGE AND WE
BELIEVE WE NEED THE LEGISLATURE
TO PROVIDE CLEAR DIRECTIVE. FOR
THESE REASONS. WE RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU.
MORNING MR CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. I'M JASON RABINOWITZ,
PRESIDENT OF TEAMSTERS JOINT
COUNCIL. SEVEN REPRESENTING
100,000 HARDWORKING TEAMSTERS
THROUGHOUT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA,
NORTHERN NEVADA. ALSO SECRETARY
TREASURER OF TEAMSTERS LOCAL
2010, REPRESENTING 15,000
HARDWORKING TEAMSTERS IN HIGHER
EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA,
INCLUDING OUR 1100. SKILLED
TRADES ESSENTIAL WORKERS
THROUGHOUT CSU. UM AND IT'S TOP
PRIORITY FOR THE TEAMSTERS UNION
TO PASS SB 4 10 WITH THE
AMENDMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE.
WE THANK SENATOR LEYVA. EVERYONE
AGREES. WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM.
WE'VE HAD A PROBLEM FOR 29 YEARS
SINCE THEY ELIMINATED STEP
INCREASES. CSU WORKERS ARE THE
ONLY WORKERS IN STATE SERVICE
WHO DO NOT RECEIVE STEP
INCREASES. AS A RESULT, WE'RE
BEHIND WAY BEHIND. AND EVERYONE
AGREES. CSU AGREES. CERTAINLY
THE WORKERS KNOW IT. THE UNIONS
NO IT UM AND THE LEGISLATURE AND
THE GOVERNOR, I THINK ALL
UNDERSTAND, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM.
UM AND THIS PROBLEM IS BAD FOR
THE WORKERS. OBVIOUSLY IT'S ALSO
BAD FOR CSU. IT'S BAD FOR THE
STUDENTS BECAUSE THE CSU WORKERS
ARE THE ONES WHO MAKE CSU WORK
WHO SERVED THE STUDENTS WHO
SERVED THE FACULTY WHO KEEPS CSU
RUNNING, INCLUDING THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC. WHEN OUR MEMBERS WENT
TO WORK EVERY DAY, PUTTING THEIR
LIVES ON THE LINE THEIR HEALTH
ON THE LINE TO KEEP CSU RUNNING
WITHOUT RAISES FOR THREE YEARS.
UM AND WITH ALL OF THE HARDSHIPS
AND RISKS THAT THEY ENDURED, AND
NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA TO RECOGNIZE THE
WORKERS WHO HAVE MADE THIS
CONTRIBUTION TO OUR STATE BY
FINALLY SOLVING THIS PROBLEM
THAT WE ALL AGREE THAT WE HAVE
WORKERS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT. AND,
UM IN THE MIDDLE OF CSU AND THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR ON
THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS, AND
WE'VE TRIED EVERYTHING. WE'VE
GONE TO THE TABLE. WE'VE TRIED
TO BARGAIN AT THE TABLE. WE HAVE
GOTTEN NOWHERE. WE'VE COME TO
THE LEGISLATURE. WE MOVED A
BUDGET. ASK UM, TOGETHER WITH
CSU, WHICH FOLKS KNOW DID WAS
NOT SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THERE
WERE THERE WERE THOSE THAT SAID
CSU HAS THE FUNDING. TO MAKE
THIS HAPPEN WITH EXISTING FUNDS,
AND WE AGREE WITH THAT. BUT IT'S
TIME THAT WE STOPPED PITTING
STICKING WORKERS IN BETWEEN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE CSU
IN THESE SORT OF DISCUSSIONS IN
THESE POLITICAL GAMES. IT'S TIME
FOR US TO STOP PASSING THE BUCK
AND STOP DELAYING A SOLUTION TO
THIS PROBLEM THAT WE ALL AGREE
WE HAVE, AND THAT'S WHAT SB 4 10
DOES. IT UH, IT IMPLEMENTS WHAT
? THE SALARY STUDY FROM MERCER
COMMISSIONED BY THE LEGISLATURE
SAYS IT IMPLEMENTS THE
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS
INDEPENDENT, UH, THIS
INDEPENDENT STUDY AND REQUIRES
CSU TO FINALLY STOP THE DELAYS.
BE FAIR TO WORKERS AND SOLVE THE
PROBLEM OF INEQUITY AND THE LACK
OF STEPS AT CSU. SO WE ASKED FOR
YOU I VOTE ON SB 4 10 WE THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. UH
I'LL CALL UP NOW. WITNESSES AND
OPPOSITION. CSU. ALRIGHT, ARE
ARE THERE TWO WITNESSES JUST
WENT OKAY. SO YOU MAY HAVE FOUR
MINUTES. PERFECT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. GOOD MORNING CHAIR MEDINA
AND MEMBERS CHEN CHASE WITH
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY. THE
CSU RECOGNIZES THAT ARE
DEDICATED FACULTY AND STAFF ARE
ESSENTIAL TO OUR MISSION OF
ELEVATING THE STATE AND THE LIES
WITH THE RESIDENTS TO THE
TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF HIGHER
EDUCATION. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND
THE AUTHORS AND SPONSORS INTENT,
THE CSU MUST RESPECTFULLY
OPPOSED AS P 4 10. THE LAST
MINUTE GOTTEN AMEND THAT
CIRCUMVENTS THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING PROCESS TO MANDATE A
STEP SALARY STRUCTURE FOR NON
FACULTY STAFF BARGAINING UNITS.
SB 4. 10 CREATES THREE
PROBLEMATIC ISSUES FOR THE CSU.
FIRST THE BILL IMPOSES A
SIGNIFICANT COST MANDATE TO THE
UNIVERSITY WITHOUT A FUNDING
SOURCE, AS WAS NOTED IN THE
COMMITTEE ANALYSIS. IN YEAR ONE.
THE BILL IS ESTIMATED TO COST
THE CSU UNDER AN $87 MILLION.
OVER 10 YEARS. THE BILL WILL
COST APPROXIMATELY $1.3 BILLION
IN ONGOING FUNDING, WHICH IS
EQUIVALENT TO 28% OF ALL STATE
GENERAL FUND SUPPORTING THE U.
S. THE CSU AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE
OPERATING BUDGETS OF EAST BAY,
FRESNO, LOS ANGELES AND POMONA
CAMPUSES, WHICH COLLECTIVELY
SERVED 95,000 STUDENTS. SECOND
BY REQUIRING THE CSU TO USE
EXISTING FUNDS. AS BEFORE 10
WILL FOURTH BUDGETARY DECISIONS
THAT WILL HAVE CONSIDERABLE
NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON STUDENTS AND
UNIVERSITY OF PRIORITIES. TO PUT
A FINER POINT ON IT. THE CSU
WILL HAVE LIMITED OPTIONS AND
WILL BE FORCED TO LOOK AT EITHER
COST CUTTING MEASURES OR REVENUE
GENERATING MEASURES. COST
CUTTING MEASURES WOULD INCLUDE
DIVERSIONS OF FUNDS FROM STUDENT
SUPPORT SERVICES. GRADUATION
INITIATIVE, 2025 EQUITY EFFORTS
AND OTHER CRITICAL ACADEMIC
SERVICES. BENEFIT REDUCTIONS
LAYING OFF OF FACULTY AND STAFF
AND FURLOUGHS AND REVENUE
GENERATION OPTIONS WOULD INCLUDE
INCREASING TUITION AND FEES.
THIRD AS BEFORE 10 CIRCUMVENTS
THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
PROCESS. CSU SIGNED A MEMORANDUM
OF UNDERSTANDING WITH C S U EW
IN APRIL 2022 TO NEGOTIATE
IMPLEMENTATION OF A SALARY STUDY
RECOMMENDATIONS IN A SEPARATE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS,
CSU REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE MOU
AND PARTNERING WITH THE S U EW
DETERMINE HOW TO BLESSED,
IMPLEMENT OR OTHER SALARY
CHANGES, AS WELL AS OUR OTHER
UNIONS. THE PURSUIT OF SP 4 10
UNDERMINES THIS MOU AND CREATES
A PRECEDENT FOR OTHER LABOR
UNIONS TO CIRCUMVENT THE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS.
FINALLY WE WOULD LIKE TO
REITERATE OUR COMMITMENT TO
MODIFYING AND IMPLEMENTING THAT
A SALARY STRUCTURE FOR FAIR AND
COMPETITIVE PAY. RECRUITING AND
RETAINING HIGH QUALITY FACULTY
AND STAFF IS ABSOLUTELY
ESSENTIAL TO OUR MISSION IN OUR
ABILITY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS.
SO WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ASK THE
COMMITTEE TO PROTECT THE CSU
FROM AN UNFUNDED MANDATE STATE
MANDATE THAT WILL HARM OUR
STUDENTS AND UNIVERSITY
PRIORITIES AND DEFEND THE
INTEGRITY OF THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING PROCESS. FOR THESE
REASONS, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST
YOUR NO VOTE ON SB 4/10. THANK
YOU. ARE THERE ANY TWEENER
WITNESSES? OH WELL, I'M CALLING
FOR ANY TWEENER TO COME UP TO
THE TO THE TABLE, BUT NOT SEEING
ANY OKAY? I WILL CALL WITNESSES
AND SUPPORT COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE. GIVE US YOUR NAME
ORGANIZATION YOU REPRESENT AND
YOUR POSITION. MR CHAIR.
REMEMBER SARAH FLOCKS ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA LABOR
FEDERATION IN STRONG SUPPORT?
THANK YOU. MR CHAIRMAN MEMBERS,
MATT BROAD ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA TEAMSTERS PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COUNCIL SPONSORS OF THIS
BILL, WE WOULD URGE YOUR I'VE
OUT. THANK YOU. HELLO CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, JANICE O'MALLEY WITH
THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE
COUNTY MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, CASSIE MANCINI ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION IN THE HEARING ROOM
LIKE TO COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE. SEE NONE. ANY
TWEENERS. I WOULD LIKE TO COME
UP TO THE MICROPHONE. ALSO
SEEING THAT AND WE'LL GO TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS, MR IRWIN UH, THANK
YOU. I THINK IT WAS AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THAT
CHANNEL ISLANDS EMPLOYEES
INVITED ME TO TALK TO THE UNION
MEMBERS THERE, AND IT'S CLEAR
THAT, UM THEY DID THE WORK TO
PROVE THAT THEY NEEDED THIS STEP
SYSTEM. BUT MY FIRST QUESTION IS
IN THE OPPOSITION LETTER. IT
SAYS THAT WHAT IS BEING
IMPLEMENTED IS NOT WHAT WAS
DISCUSSED IN THE MERCER STUDY.
SO IS THERE DID I READ THAT
THERE IS AN AMENDMENT THT THAT
IS, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS
ACTUALLY GOING BACK TO THE
MERCER STUDY IS CORRECT. OKAY
AND THE OTHER, UM SO THAT THEY
AGAIN MADE A VERY COMPELLING
ARGUMENT. AND CERTAINLY I AM IN
SUPPORT OF THIS, BUT I AM YOU
KNOW, IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME WHETHER
THERE IS MONEY IN THE SYSTEM
ITSELF. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, THEY
NEED RESERVES. UM AND THERE'S
LONG TERM CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVING FOR.
SO UM, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT
TUITION GOING UP AND I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT STUDENT SERVICES
BEING CUT, SO I THINK THAT IT IS
VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT THIS WAS
TAKEN OUT OF THE BUDGET, AND I
HOPE THAT IF WE SUPPORT THIS AH
, THAT THERE IS EVERY EFFORT
MADE TO AUGMENT THE CAL STATE
BUDGET NEXT YEAR TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE TUITION
INCREASES OR CUTS IN SERVICES.
COULDN'T AGREE MORE,
ASSEMBLYWOMAN IRWIN, WE DON'T
WANT TO SEE ANY CUTS IN
SERVICES, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT
THEY'VE HAD 29 YEARS TO GET
THEIR ACT TOGETHER. TO PLAN FOR
THIS. I WOULD RESPECTFULLY
DISAGREE THAT WE ARE
CIRCUMVENTING THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING PROCESS. HOW MANY
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS
HAVE THERE BEEN IN 29 YEARS, AND
IT JUST HASN'T HAPPENED? UM TWO
YEARS AGO, I HAD A BILL. I HELD
THE BILL SO THAT THEY COULD DO
THIS STUDY AND THE STUDY CAME
BACK AND SHOWED EVERYTHING WE
KNOW. AND NOW THEY STILL DON'T
WANT TO IMPLEMENT THESE. IT'S
TIME IT'S LONG OVERDUE. AS I
SAID EARLIER. I'VE NEVER HEARD
MANAGEMENT COME IN AND SAY, OH,
WE HAVE MONEY WE WANT TO GIVE
RAISES. I'VE NEVER HEARD
MANAGEMENT SAY ANYTHING, BUT WE
CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT THAT WHERE
THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY C
S E. C S U EW MEMBERS ARE THE
GLUE THAT HOLDS TOGETHER OUR CAL
STATE UNIVERSITIES, THE FINEST
INSTITUTION IN THE COUNTRY. THE
VERY LEAST WE CAN DO IS FIND A
WAY TO PAY THESE WORKERS. AND I
WOULD ALSO ARGUE THAT THE MERCER
STUDY THE NINE STEPS IS
ABSOLUTELY DEEP, BARE BONES
MINIMUM OF A STEP SYSTEM. I
MEAN, I WOULD EVEN SAY IT'S
ALMOST NOT A STEP SYSTEM, BUT
IT'S A START. IT'S A STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION. NO PUN
INTENDED. SO I AGREE, AND I HOPE
I WON'T BE HERE NEXT YEAR, BUT I
WOULD ADVOCATE FOR MONEY AS
WELL. AND WHO KNOWS? MAYBE IF WE
GET TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, AND
WE CONTINUE TO MAKE COGENT
ARGUMENTS, HE'LL FIND SOME
MONEY. OTHER QUESTIONS ARE
COMING. DR WEBBER. GOOD MORNING
. I REALLY WANNA THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FOR IT AGAIN.
UM I KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN A
VERY LONG, HARD FIGHT. UM AND
YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU STARTED IT
THE PREVIOUS DOCTOR WEBER HAD
BROUGHT A COUPLE OF THESE BILLS
FORWARD, AND AT THAT TIME IT WAS
STATED WILL LET CSU WORK IT OUT
. GO TO YOUR COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AND OVER AND OVER
AGAIN, AND THAT NEVER HAPPENED.
UM I AM OF THE FAITH THAT WE AS
A LEGISLATIVEBODY, CAN, YOU
KNOW? FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CANMAKE SURE THAT
TUITIONS DON'T GO UP WHETHER
IT'S DISCUSSING IT IN THE BILL
FOR NEXT YEAR, AND THAT THAT CSU
DOESN'T HAVE TO ELIMINATE ANY OF
ITS RESOURCES, BUT WE CANNOT
CONTINUE TO KICK THIS DOWN THE
ROAD, AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR CONTINUED TO FIGHT. I WAS
LOOKING 1996 THAT WAS LIKE MY
GOODNESS. THAT'S WHEN I
GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL SO
MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, AND THESE
THESE MORE FOR MANY OF US NEZA,
THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO REALLY ARE
ESSENTIAL WORKERS ON OUR CSU
CAMPUSES HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FOR
VERY LONG TIME. SO THANK YOU SO
VERY MUCH FOR CONTINUING IN THIS
FIGHT, AND I AM PROUD TO BE ABLE
TO SUPPORT IT TODAY. THANK YOU,
ASSEMBLYWOMAN WEBER. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, MR BLOOM
? WELL I'M UH, PLEASED THAT THE
AMENDMENTS, UM APPEAR TO, UH,
BRING YOUR BILL IN LINE. WITH
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MERCER
REPORT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
CSU IS IN AGREEMENT. I KNOW YOUR
LETTER SAID YOU DIDN'T AGREE. UM
THEN THE BILL WAS AMENDED. SO DO
YOU AGREE THAT THE BILL NOW
ALIGNS WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE MERCER REPORT? MY ANSWER
. THANK YOU. SO MUCH FOR THAT
QUESTION. SOME LIMBER BLOOM, SO
THE RECOMMENDATIONS DO ALIGN
WITH THE STEP SALARY STRUCTURE.
UM THE BEFORE THERE WERE SEVERAL
DIFFERENT PERCENTAGES THERE ARE
STILL OTHER. THERE ARE STILL
OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE NOT
ALIGNED WITH THE WITH THE BILL.
FOR EXAMPLE, 111 PARTICULAR
EXAMPLE IS THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY
NO JOB FRAMEWORK, WHICH IS ONE
BIG RECOMMENDATION OF THE MERCER
STUDY, AND THAT ISN'T
NECESSARILY SPELLED OUT IN THE
BILL. IN ANOTHER. UM ANOTHER
CONCERN IS THAT LANGUAGE IN THE
BILL STATES, THE EMPLOYEE SHALL
BE PLACED ON THE STEP BASED ON
THEIR YEAR OF SERVICE AT THE
CSU, WHILE THE MERCER STUDY SAYS
IT SHOULD BE PLACED BASED ON
THEIR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, SO
THAT IS ANOTHER DISCREPANCY.
THAT WAS THE LARGEST ONE THAT WE
POINTED OUT IN THE LETTER, BUT
THERE ARE STILL FEW OTHER
REMAINING ISSUES THAT DON'T HAVE
TOTAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE STUDY.
THANK YOU AND SENATOR LEYVA. DO
YOU WANT TO ADD YOUR COMMENTS ON
THAT PARTICULAR TOPIC OR YOUR
WITNESSES MIGHT WISH TO WELL
AGAIN. THIS IS KIND OF A BARE
BONES BILL. YOU CAN ALWAYS DO
MORE IF YOU WANT TO INCREASE THE
SALARY STEPS. IF YOU WANT TO ADD
MORE MONEY, YOU CAN DO THAT. I
UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING
ABOUT YEARS OF SENIORITY VERSUS
EXPERIENCE, AND YOU KNOW, EVERY
UNION IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT
I DO THINK IN EVERY UNION
SENIORITY IS ALWAYS THERE. THERE
IS A REASON FOR SENIORITY. AND
THEN THERE'S A REASON THAT
THAT'S IN THERE. UM SO I HEAR
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. BUT IF
THAT'S A PROBLEM, WE CAN ADDRESS
IT NEXT YEAR. RIGHT NOW, THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING DID YOU
WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING IS TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE WORKERS RECEIVE FAIR
AND EQUITABLE STEPS IN THEIR
SALARY. YEAH. GO AHEAD. NO,
YOU'RE GOOD. MAY I ADD? YES
THANK YOU. FOR THE FOR THE
QUESTION, SO OUR INTENT AND WE
BELIEVE THE LANGUAGE OF THE OF
THE BILL TRACKS THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MERCER
STUDY. IT SAYS IN SUBDIVISION F
THAT THE PURPOSE THAT THE INTENT
IS TO ALIGN WITH THE MERCER
STUDY. WE DO NOT INTEND TO
CHANGE THAT OR BYPASS THAT IN IN
ANY WAY. AND THAT'S WHY WE
AGREED TO THE TO THE AMENDMENTS
AND AS FAR AS YEARS OF SERVICE
VERSUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, WE
WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT TO BE THE
STATEMENT THAT ITS YEARS OF
SERVICE VERSUS YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE TO BE A SIMILAR
INTENTION. BUT YEARS OF SERVICE
MAY ACTUALLY BE MORE FAVORABLE
TO CSU. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
COULD ENCOMPASS YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE PRIOR WORK BEFORE
COMING TO CSU, WHICH WHICH MIGHT
ACTUALLY RESULT IN A HIGHER
INCREASE FOR THE AFFECTED
WORKERS SO IT MAY BE MORE
FAVORABLE TO CSU. NEVERTHELESS
WE'RE WE'RE WILLING TO. WE'RE
WILLING TO LOOK AT THAT IN THE
FUTURE. FOR NOW, THOUGH, I DON'T
WANT TO ASSURE THE COMMITTEE
THAT THE INTENTION AND WE
BELIEVE THE LANGUAGE OF THE
STATUTE OF THE BILL MAKES CLEAR
THAT ATTRACTS THE STUDY. THANK
YOU FOR ALL OF THOSE RESPONSES.
UM SENATOR LABOR. MY MAIN
CONCERN NOW IS WITH THE FUNDING
ISSUE. UM I TAKE YOUR POINT THAT
MANAGEMENT IS TYPICALLY GOING TO
SAY WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY AND
LABOR IS TYPICALLY GOING TO SAY
YES, YOU DO. UM TAKE THAT POINT
. BUT WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT
HERE IS TO NOTICE THAT UM THIS
BUDGET IS PUBLICLY OVERSEEN BY
TWO BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEES, THE
SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLIES AND AS
WELL, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
. UM IF THERE WERE AN EXTRA $287
MILLION, I DON'T THINK THERE
WOULD HAVE BEEN PROPOSED TO 87,
THEN THAT AMOUNT REMOVED AND YOU
KNOW, THERE'S NO INDICATION TO
ME THAT SOMEHOW THIS MONEY IS
JUST LAYING AROUND. UM IT HAS TO
COME FROM SOMEWHERE. I THINK THE
SEA SUS POINT IS WELL TAKEN.
MAYBE THERE'S A ABILITY TO SHIFT
SOME MONIES OUT OF RESERVE OR OR
SOMEWHERE, BUT WE'RE NOT HEARING
THAT TODAY, AND THIS IS AH,
ACCORDING TO THE CURRENT
LANGUAGE IN THE BILL. IT'S SET
FOR IMPLEMENTATION ON JANUARY
ONE, AND JUST A FEW MONTHS AND
SO MAKING THAT ADJUSTMENT IS
GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT. AND
IT SEEMS TO ME, UM GIVEN WHERE
WE ARE IN THE TIMING OF WHERE WE
ARE. THAT WE SHOULD AT LEAST
GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BREATHING
ROOM THERE, SO THAT IT THERE'S
REALLY I THINK LITTLE OR NO WAY
IT CAN MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE
BUDGET. THIS YEAR. FOR JANUARY
ONE. UM AH, BUT THERE'S EVERY
POSSIBILITY THAT UNDERSTANDING
THAT, YOU KNOW, ASSUMING THIS
LEGISLATION PASSES THAT THESE
CHANGES ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE
THAT THE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE
NEXT YEAR SUBCOMMITTEES AND THE
ADMINISTRATION CAN TAKE NOTE OF
THAT AND, UM, ADD FUNDING
ASSUMING THE BUDGET WILL ALLOW
IT. SO UM, I WOULD ASK IF YOU
WOULD CONSIDER, UM, AMENDING
WOULD HAVE TO BE ON THE FLOOR. I
THINK AT THIS POINT UM, AMENDING
THE BILL ON THE FLOOR TO HAVE A
JANUARY 2024. IMPLEMENTATION
DATE, WHICH I UNDERSTAND AS WELL
AFTER BOTH YOU AND I WILL RETIRE
FROM OUR RESPECTIVE BODIES SO
RESPECTFULLY. NO, BECAUSE I
PERSONALLY I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE
FOR 29 YEARS, BUT I PERSONALLY
HAVE WORKED ON THIS ISSUE FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS AND SEEN IT.
JUST CONTINUE. WE'VE DONE
EVERYTHING THAT'S THE ISSUES OF
OUR SISTERS TO DO. SHELVE YOUR
BILL. BILL. CONNIE LEVEL WE'RE
GOING TO DO A STUDY. OKAY LET'S
DO THAT. WE DO THE STUDY AND
WHAT HAPPENS? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
. AND I DON'T KNOW IF ALL IF YOU
REMEMBER, BUT A FEW YEARS AGO,
THERE WAS AN ARTICLE AND I
BELIEVE THE L A TIMES THAT THE
ISSUES HAD A FEW BILLION DOLLARS
LAYING AROUND THAT NO ONE HAD
ACCOUNTED FOR, SO I DON'T
NECESSARILY AGREE. THAT, UM THE
MONEY CAN'T BE FOUND, BUT
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE
ENVELOPE TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE
AND THIS IS GOING TO TAKE CARE
OF OVER 200,000 WORKERS WHO COME
TO WORK EVERY DAY. AND AS I
SAID, BEFORE, ARE THE GLUE THAT
HOLDS OUR CSU'S TOGETHER. IF WE
CAN'T TAKE CARE OF THEM, HOW CAN
WE EXPECT THE STUDENTS THAT ARE
ATTENDING TO FEEL TO FEEL
COMFORTABLE AND GO OUT INTO THE
WORLD AND DO THE RIGHT THING SO
RESPECTFULLY NÓ MR LOWE. NO. MR
GABRIEL? YEAH THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. UM AND THANK YOU TO THE
AUTHOR. UM I GUESS I SHARE SOME
OF MR BLOOM'S CONCERNS AND JUST
WANTED TO GIVE VOICE TO THAT,
AND I SEE THIS WITH A LOT OF
SHADES OF NUANCE. MY GRANDFATHER
WHO WAS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL
MAN WHO MR BROUGHT OVER THERE
NOW, UM, SPENT MOST OF HIS
CAREER WORKING JUST DOWN THE
ROAD HERE AT CSU, SACRAMENTO.
AND I'M QUITE CONFIDENT THAT HE
WAS UNDERPAID FOR MOST OF US,
AND HE TOOK TREMENDOUS PRIDE IN
TEACHING AT THE CSU. HE TOOK
TREMENDOUS PRIDE IN HELPING A
LOT OF FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS
AND BEING PART OF THE STATE AND
ITS PUBLIC SERVING MISSION. AND
IT'S VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT, UM
YOU KNOW THESE THESE WONDERFUL
EMPLOYEES WHO ARE WE'RE LUCKY TO
HAVE BEEN UNDERPAID FOR A LONG
TIME. THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS I
DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD
PRETEND THAT THIS BILL ABSENT
FUNDING IS GOING TO HAVE AN
IMPACT ON STUDENTS. I THINK
THAT'S JUST THE REALITY OF
THINGS, AND I THINK WHETHER IT'S
TAKING AWAY MONEY FROM THE
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS CENTER,
TAKING AWAY OPPORTUNITIES,
RAISING STUDENT FEES THAT'S
GONNA HAPPEN. I MEAN, THAT'S AN
INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS
AND I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
SENATOR ABOUT LABOR AND
MANAGEMENT, BUT YOU KNOW TO ME
IT'S ONE THING WHEN LABOR COMES
IN, AND THEY REDUCE THE PROFITS
OF SHAREHOLDERS, RIGHT AND
THAT'S YOU KNOW, TO ME THAT
FEELS A LOT BETTER WHEN THE
IMPACT ON THE OTHER SIDE MIGHT
BE A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT
WHO'S LOOKING AT THEOPPORTUNITY
MAY BE THE FIRST PERSON IN THEIR
FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE. UM
GIVES ME SOME TREPIDATION THAT
WE WOULD PROCEED HERE WITHOUT A
BUT A BUDGET AUGMENTATION. SO I
THINK THAT WHO'S REALLY TO BLAME
HERE IS ALL OF US. THOSE OF US
IN THE LEGISLATURE WHO HAVE
CHRONICALLY UNDERFUNDED PUBLIC
HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. RIGHT AND SO WE'VE
FORCED THE UNIVERSITY INTO
DIFFICULT DECISIONS WHERE IT'S
SEEKING TO BALANCE ITS BUDGET ON
THE BACKS OF WORKERS, WHICH IS
TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE, BUT BUT
IT'S REALLY ON ALL OF US. AND
WE'RE THE ONES WHO FAILED. AND
SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS
BILL TODAY, BUT I DO WANT US TO
BE MINDFUL THERE ISN'T SOME
MAGIC SOLUTION. THIS MONEY ISN'T
JUST GOING TO APPEAR FROM
SOMEWHERE. IT'S GONNA HAVE REAL
CONSEQUENCES ON STUDENTS. AND
UNFORTUNATELY PROBABLY ON OUR
MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS. AND SO
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE TO THE
EXTENT POSSIBLE. I KNOW THAT YOU
ALL HAVE TRIED TO DO THIS. BOTH
THE UNIVERSITY AND LABOR. I
THINK YOU ARE STRONGER WHEN
YOU'RE WORKING TOGETHER. AND I
THINK YOU NEED TO COME TO THE
LEGISLATURE AND POUND YOUR FIST
EVEN HARDER AND DEMAND THAT WE
FUND PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION IN
THE WAY THAT IT DESERVES TO BE
FUNDED BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING THE
UNIVERSITY IN A REALLY DIFFICULT
AND IMPOSSIBLE POSITION. WE'RE
PUTTING THE EMPLOYEES WHO WORKED
SO HARD AND TO DO SUCH A
WONDERFUL JOB AND HAVE FOR SO
MANY DECADES DONE SUCH A
WONDERFUL JOB FOR STUDENTS AND
WHO ARE PROUD TO DO THAT WORK.
WE'RE PUTTING THEM IN AN UNFAIR
POSITION, AND WE'RE PUTTING OUR
STUDENTS IN AN UNFAIR POSITION,
SO I THINK WE NEED TO HOLD THE
MIRROR UP TO ALL OF OURSELVES
WILL VOTE FOR THIS BILL TODAY,
BUT I REALLY, REALLY HOPE THAT
THOSE OF US WHO ARE GOING TO
HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING HERE
NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT
REALLY HARD TO INCREASE THAT
AUGMENTATION IN THE BUDGET.
BECAUSE WE OWE IT TO THE
STUDENTS. WE OWE IT TO THE
WORKERS AND WE OUT TO THE
UNIVERSITY. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S AND I COULDN'T
AGREE MORE. I HOPE THAT EVERYONE
WILL FIGHT FOR THAT, AND WE HAVE
TRIED. IT GOT TAKEN OUT OF THE
BUDGET, NOT BY ANY OF US IN THIS
ROOM. THERE'S ONE PERSON WHO
GETS TO TAKE THINGS OUT OF THE
BUDGET. UM BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I
WOULD ALSO SAY AGAIN. YES WE
DON'T WANT TO SEE STUDENTS
SUFFER. BUT WHAT DO WE WHAT
MESSAGE? ARE WE SENDING TO
STUDENTS THAT YOU GET TO COME
AND GET THIS EDUCATION ON THE
BACKS OF THESE WORKERS? THAT'S
NOT A GOOD LIFE LESSON. THAT'S
NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD HAVE
MISSED. THAT WE SHOULD BE
SENDING. AND THESE ARE NOT
WORKERS THAT ARE HIGH PAID.
THESE ARE NOT WORKERS THAT MAKE
A TON OF MONEY. THESE ARE PEOPLE
THAT ARE JUST TRYING TO GET BY.
SO I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.
LIKE I SAID EARLIER. I HOPE THAT
AFTER ALL THESE COGENT ARGUMENTS
HAVE BEEN MADE IF THIS MAKES IT
TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK. HE AND
HIS STAFF SAY, OH MY GOODNESS.
MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN
DO. LIBERTY. I DON'T HEAR A
DIRECT QUESTION TO CSU, SO I'M
GONNA GO WITH DR CHOI. OKAY
HEARING, UM CONCERNS THAT ALSO I
HAVE IN MY MIND. I THINK I NEED
TO PHANTOM. MY FRUSTRATION AS
WELL, UM, BECAUSE. I KNOW NON
FACULTY EMPLOYEES, UH, ARE SO
BEHIND 12% BEHIND THE MARKET
RATE THAT THEY SHOULD SHOULD
SHOULD BE UP BUT THAT THEY ARE
12% BEHIND THAT THAT CNN ON THAT
ANALYSIS ASSESS THEM. SO THEY
DESERVE, UH, THAT INCREASE AS
PROPOSED AT THE SAME TIME. OUR
LEGISLATORS ARE TRYING TO
MANAGED THE. LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
FOR CSU. WITHOUT PROPER PROPER
FUNDING. YOU GO AHEAD, THE
INCREASE, AND, UH I DON'T KNOW
HOW WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE IT.
BUT 207 $280 MILLION A POINT
YEAR FIND THE MONEY SOMEWHERE
YOU ARE HIDING, SO TO SPEAK.
THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE TELLING THEM
TO MANAGE, SO THAT MEANS THEY
WILL BE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. UM
PROGRAM CUTS ACROSS CUTS. SOME
SOMETHING'S DELAYED, UH, STUDENT
SERVICES WILL BE DELAYED. UH AND
EVENTUALLY CONSIDERATION AFFORD
TUITION HIKE. SO I THINK WE
SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. TO ME
THIS KIND OF LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
SHOULD SHOULD BE MADE. WITHIN
THE SYSTEM. AS ADMINISTRATION
VERSUS AH LABOR UNIONS, FACULTY
MEMBERS. WHY WE GET INTO. THE
NEGOTIATIONS AND DEMAND, FORCING
THEM TO. TO PAY ABOVE AND BEYOND
THEIR ABILITY WAS THE
CHANCELLOR. OF THE SYSTEM IS A
TELLING. NO, I CAN'T MANAGING AS
THAT. THAT'S WHY HIS OPPOSING
IT. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE
IMPOSING THEM, TOO. TO IMPLEMENT
THAT THIS INCREASE, SO I THINK
THAT THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE. SO I
EVEN THOUGH I HEAR THE NEED FOR
INCREASE. BUT THE SAME TIME YOU
GO AHEAD THEM MANAGER. WHATEVER
PROPOSED INCREASE WITHIN THE
BUDGET, THE LIMITED BUDGET THAT
THAT WE ARE NOT PROVIDING SO WAS
WHO IS CORRECT HOW WE'RE GONNA
MANAGE IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO
LEARN HOW WE'RE GONNA MANAGE TO
FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE
HIDDEN THE MONEY SOMEWHERE. I
DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT IS
REALLY REALISTIC. IS A REALLY
FRUSTRATING THANK YOU VERY MUCH
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S I WOULD JUST
REITERATE THAT THEY HAVE TRIED
TO DO THIS AND COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AND IT HASN'T
HAPPENED. IT'S BEEN ALMOST THREE
DECADES. SO NOW THAT'S WHY WE'RE
STEPPING IN. WE ARE THE ONES THE
LEGISLATURE. WE ARE THE ONES
THAT ALLOCATE THE MONEY FOR CSU
. WE HAVE HOPED THAT THEY WOULD
RESOLVE THIS AND WE HAVE THE
ABILITY. SORRY INTERRUPT. WE
HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A
PROPOSAL AND THE GOVERNOR SHOULD
ALLOCATE WHATEVER NEEDED THE
NEEDED AMOUNT THAT THE
CHANCELLOR'S PROPOSING AND THE
CHANCELLOR IS THE ONE WHO'S
EXECUTING THE MONEY THAT THE
BUDGET THAT WE ALLOCATE TO HIM.
HOW HOW CAN YOU MANAGE THE MONEY
THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE? OTHER THAN
SACRIFICING SOME SOMETHING ELSE?
REMEMBER WHAT I WAS ADDRESSING?
WAS YOUR COMMENT THAT THIS
SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF, AND
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. THEY HAVE
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE
OF THIS AND COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING FOR ALMOST THREE
DECADES, AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN
TAKEN CARE OF. SO UNFORTUNATELY
, IT PUTS US ALL IN A DIFFICULT
SITUATION, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE IN THE MOST DIFFICULT
SITUATION ARE THE WORKERS, THE
ONES WHO HAVE WAITED PATIENTLY
FOR MANAGEMENT TO DO THE RIGHT
THINGS. THE ONES WHO HAVE WAITED
AND DONE THEIR JOB DAY IN AND
DAY OUT. SO YES, THIS IS AN
UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION AND YES
, THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO AIR I HOPE ON
THE SIDE OF THE WORKERS WHO KEEP
CSU'S RUNNING. SO YOU TEND TO
BLAME FOR THE SYSTEM TO HAVE NOT
TAKEN ACTIONS. IN OTHER WORDS,
THE SALARY INCREASES THAT NON
FACULTY MEMBERS AND WE SHOULD
HAVE PROVIDED. WE ARE THE ONES
SO WHO ALLOCATES THE BUDGET. AND
THE CHANCELLOR WILL EXECUTE
WITHIN THE LIMIT OF THE BUDGET,
AND WE ARE NOT GIVING THEM THE
RESOURCES. I THINK YOU AND I
HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT.
YOU'RE RIGHT. THEY COULD ALWAYS
USE MORE MONEY. BUT WE HAVE
TRIED THIS BEFORE. SO NOW WE'RE
AT A POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO
FORCE THE ISSUE THAT THE BLAME
SHOULD BE UPON US OR THE
GOVERNOR. YES. OKAY, GO AHEAD.
MAY I? THE. WE UH WE AGREE THAT
THERE SHOULD BE ADEQUATE FUNDING
FOR CSU. HOWEVER WHAT WE TAKE
FROM THE DECISION NOT TO PUT THE
MONEY IN THE BUDGET WAS THAT
THAT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT CSU
HAS THE FUNDING. THAT'S WHY THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WE BELIEVE DID
NOT SUPPORT THAT. WE ASKED FOR.
WE WANTED THAT FUNDING. BUT WE
HAVE TO AGREE THAT CSU HAS
SIGNIFICANT RESERVES AND
SIGNIFICANT FUNDING IN THE
BUDGET ALREADY TO FUND THIS AND
YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST
TIME THIS HAS PASSED THE
LEGISLATURE PREVIOUSLY WITH
VOTES FROM, UH MANY OF THE FOLKS
ON THIS COMMITTEE, WHICH WE
APPRECIATE, AND PREVIOUS
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL DID NOT
INCLUDE THE FUNDING. WE BELIEVE
THAT THE FUNDING IS THERE WITH
EXISTING FUNDS, AND WE ASKED FOR
SUPPORT FROM THE WORKERS WHO
KEEP CSU RUNNING WITH A VOTE.
I'M I'M GONNA I'M GONNA I'M
GONNA STOP MY YOU KNOW, IN THE
REGION OF FRUSTRATION, AND EVEN
THOUGH USES SOUND WE HAVE GIVEN
ENOUGH OF RESOURCES. I'M GONNA
LET THERE NOT MANAGING. WELL I'M
GONNA LET CSU RESPOND. TO THE
QUESTION OF WHETHER THEY DO OR
DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS. PERFECT
THANK YOU. SO MUCH ASSEMBLYMAN
AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE
MEMBERS FOR RAISING THESE VERY
IMPORTANT CONCERNS THAT ABOUT
ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF
THIS BILL, SO IN TERMS OF THE
RESERVE QUESTION, WE DO HAVE
SOME MONEY IN RESERVES, BUT
THOSE ARE FOR NON RECURRING
EXPENSES TO MANAGE SHORT TERM
OBLIGATIONS, COMMITMENTS AS WELL
AS PROVIDE FOR CAPITAL FUNDING
INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR THE
MAINTENANCE AND FOR EXAMPLE, WE
TAPPED INTO SOME OF OUR RESERVES
FOR THE PANDEMIC TO HELP DEAL
WITH ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE COCOA
PANDEMIC, WHICH IS THE REASON
BEHIND RESERVES AND JUST TO PUT
IN CONTEXT OR ECONOMIC
UNCERTAINTY RESERVES ACTUALLY
TOTAL OF 33 DAYS OF OPERATIONS
AND KIND OF STANDARD BUSINESS
PRACTICES 3 TO 6 MONTHS WE ARE
WELL BELOW WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE
IN RESERVES OUR BORDERS
CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. AND SO
THAT'S WHY IT IS NOT A LONG TERM
FUNNY MECHANISM FOR THE BILL. WE
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
CONVERSATION THAT'S HAPPENING IN
THIS COMMITTEE AND WANT TO
REITERATE THAT WE ARE COMMITTED
TO IMPLEMENTING THIS THESE
CHANGES AND THAT'S WHY IN THE
PAST, I KNOW THAT WE HAVEN'T
MADE CHANGES IN THE PAST. BUT WE
YOU KNOW, TURNED A NEW LEAF AND
WE CAME TO THE LEGISLATURE
TOGETHER. WE ASKED FOR FUNDING
TO SO WE COULD SEE WHAT ARE THE
PROBLEMS. HOW CAN WE FIX THEM?
AND HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
RESPECTFULLY WE CAME TO THE
LEGISLATURE AND WE ASKED FOR
THAT FUNDING BECAUSE, AS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BLOOM SAID THAT
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NECESSARILY
HAVE $287 MILLION IN OUR COUCH
QUESTIONS THAT WERE THAT WERE
NOT ABLE THAT WE'RE NOT PULLING
OUT. AND SO I THINK IN GENERAL,
THE, UM THE BILL IS JUST SETTING
UP A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE
IMPACT ON STUDENTS AS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S GABRIEL
OUTLINED AND THOSE ARE REAL
CONCERNS. WE DON'T HAVE THIS
EXTRA MONEY TO SITTING AROUND,
AND I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK
THAT THE COMMITTEE AND THE
LEGISLATURE THINK ABOUT THE
CONSEQUENCES OF US NOT HAVING
THIS FUNDING AND SHOULD THIS
SHOULD THIS PASS. WE WOULD
OBVIOUSLY ASK FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP IN AND GETTING
FUNDING IN THE BUDGET. WE GIVEN
THE FACT THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO
GIVE IT THIS YEAR, SO WE HAD A
REALLY GREAT ECONOMIC OUTLOOK.
WE CAME IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR
BUDGETS WITH OUR UNIONS TOGETHER
AND THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
GOVERNOR DETERMINED THAT THEY
DIDN'T HAVE THAT ONGOING FUNDS
TO INCLUDE THIS IN THE BUDGET
THIS YEAR, SO WE ARE CONCERNED
THAT GIVEN THE GOVERNOR'S KIND
OF THE POTENTIAL ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN WILL WE BE ABLE TO GET
MONEY IN THE FUTURE BUDGETS
SHOULD THIS PASS, SO THAT IS A
VERY LARGE CONCERN FOR US AND
AGAIN. THIS IS AN UNFUNDED STATE
MANDATE OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS. WE WANT TO DO THIS,
BUT WE NEED TO DO IT TOGETHER,
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
DON'T HARM OURSTUDENTS. THANK
YOU, MR SANTIAGO. AND AT THE
RISK OF ME PROMISING MYSELF, I
WOULDN'T SPEAK. I'LL SAY
SOMETHING VERY, UH QUICKLY. BUT
IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO ME AND IT'S
NOT JUST ABOUT THE CSU, RIGHT,
BUT EVERY TIME YOU'RE DEALING
WITH A PUBLIC AGENCY COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING, THERE'S ALWAYS A
REASON WHY NOT TO DO IT. IT'S
ALWAYS NOT THE RIGHT TIME.
THERE'S ALWAYS NOT ENOUGH MONEY,
AND IT'S ALWAYS THOSE ON THE
LOWEST ECONOMIC SCALE WHO DON'T
GET ANY INCREASES. I MEAN,
THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. SO AYE.
AND THAT'S A THAT'S A SONG AND
DANCE WE'VE SEEN OVER AND OVER
AND THERE'S ALWAYS SCAPEGOATING.
THERE'S ALWAYS WELL. IF WE DO
THIS, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT THAT
TIME NEVER COMES WHEN
NEGOTIATIONS IS FAIR FOR THOSE
WHO ARE WHO ARE EARNING THE
LEAST AMOUNT I MEAN, THAT'S
ALWAYS BEEN THE BOTTOM LINE. I
MEAN, THE I WANT TO PUT THIS
INTO PERSPECTIVE FOR FROM WHAT I
SEE HERE. I MEAN, THE REASON
WE'RE HERE IS BECAUSE
NEGOTIATIONS HAVE NOT WORKED.
THE REASON WE'RE HERE IS BECAUSE
THE LOWEST INCOME EARNERS HAVE
NOT RECEIVED THE RAISE. THE
REASON WE'RE HERE IS BECAUSE ALL
THE THINGS THAT WE WISH WOULD
HAVE HAPPENED HAD QUITE FRANKLY
FAILED. AND I'M NOT SAYING ONE'S
A VILLAIN AND WHO'S NOT? I
RECOGNIZE THAT I RECOGNIZE THAT
. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE
HAVE A VALUE QUESTION BEFORE US
IN THE IN THE QUESTION OF
VALUES. SHOULD THOSE LOWEST
INCOME EARNERS HAVE SOME SORT OF
DIGNITY AT WORK, SOME SORT OF
INCREASE IN WAGE AND SALARY
SCALE IS JUST THAT A SALARY
SCALE LIKE I TRIED TO DO ONE
WITH THE CSU MANY YEARS AGO. OF
COURSE THEY OPPOSED. THEN WE
TALKED. I WANTED TO DO FREE CSU
GET THE PROCESS FOR STUDENTS.
THEY POSE THAT TO SO, SO
INSTITUTIONS AND BUREAUCRACIES
ARE JUST BUILT. NOT TO DO
CERTAIN THINGS. AND ONE OF THE
NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT
DOING CERTAIN THINGS IS ALSO NOT
GIVING RAISES TO THOSE WHO ARE
ON THE LOWEST ECONOMIC SKILL
BECAUSE BECAUSE IT WHENEVER
THERE'S CUTBACKS YOU NEVER CUT
BACK ON THE EXECUTIVE WHAT IT
IS. YOU NEVER CUT BACK ON THE
HIGHER EARNERS. YOU KNOW YOU
ALWAYS LAY OFF ON THE LOWER
EARNERS ALWAYS SUBCONTRACT ON
THE LOWER EARNERS. I MEAN, THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN
OVER AND OVER. SO THE QUESTION
BEFORE IS IT IS A VALUES
QUESTION SHOULD THE LOWEST
ECONOMIC EARNERS. SHOULD IT
SHOULD BE A PUBLIC AGENCY BEHAVE
LIKE A PUBLIC AGENCY, NOT A
CORPORATE ENTITY. AND THAT
REALLY IS WHAT IS BEFORE US. I
MEAN, I WOULD VOTE ON THIS 100
TIMES. I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE
DAY, YOU KNOW, I WAS IN THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD. I WAS
THERE. YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD BEFORE
THAT, ALMOST EVERY BUDGET
DEPARTMENT TELL US THAT THERE
WASN'T WAGES FOR RAISES THAT
THERE WASN'T THIS. YOU KNOW, AS
SOON AS YOU MET, YOU FORCE THEM
TO DO THE RAISE THE MONEY
BALANCES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
YOU'RE OFF TO THE NEXT YEAR.
THERE'S ALWAYS THERE'S NO, IT
ALWAYS WORKS OUT ONCE THE ACTION
IS TAKEN. SO I WOULD ALREADY I
WOULD ARGUE FOR AN I VOTE
BECAUSE WE'RE CLEARLY HERE
BECAUSE IT HASN'T WORKED. THANK
YOU, SANTA. I SEE NO OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, SENATOR
LEVEL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE
MR CHAIR? I WILL BE SHORT. IF
NOT NOW, WHEN I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR MY VOTE. THANK YOU, SENATOR.
A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE, I
THINK TAKEN SOME OF THE SAME
THINGS THAT I WANT TO EXPRESS,
BUT I WILL EXPRESS THEM AGAIN.
BECAUSE I LIKE MR SANTIAGO WAS A
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. SOME 30
SOME YEARS AGO, AND I REMEMBER
WHEN WE CAME TO BUDGET CUTS.
THAT WAS EXACTLY THE PROCESS
THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THAT
SCHOOL DISTRICT CAME TO US. AND
ASKED US TO CUT LIBRARIANS AND
LIBRARY, AIDS AND, UH,
GROUNDSKEEPERS, UH AND JANITORS.
AND WOW. YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA CUT
A LOT OF LIBRARY AIDES,
JANITORS, GROUNDSKEEPERS. TO AH
, TO BALANCE THE BUDGET WHEN YOU
LEAVE THE ADMINISTRATION INTACT.
SO I VERY MUCH AGREE WITH MR
SANTIAGO. THAT YOU KNOW, THAT'S
NOT THE WAY TO BALANCE THE
BUDGET TO LOOK AT THE LOWEST
WAGE EARNERS AND KEEP THEM, UM
AT BUT AT THE BOTTOM UM BUT 10
YEARS AGO EIGHT YEARS AGO WHEN I
BECAME CHAIR OF HIGHER EDUCATION
, OR WHEN THE THENYOU PRESIDENT
OF C WAS COMING ABOARD. AS AS
YOU SEE, PRESIDENT AND WE'RE
TALKING ONE YOU SEE PRESIDENT
BEFORE THIS PRESENT PRESIDENT,
UM SHE TRAVELED THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA AND CAME TO RIVERSIDE
AND MET. I GOT A CHANCE TO MEET
WITH HER, AND SHE ASKED THE
QUESTION. WHAT WOULD MOST HELP
YOU AS A LEGISLATOR? AH, WITH
YOU SEE? AND MY ANSWER TO HER
WAS VERY QUICK AND IT'S THE SAME
ANSWER THAT WE ARE SITTING HERE
TODAY WITH AND THAT IS I TOLD
HER THAT YOU SEE NEEDED TO SOLVE
ITS LABOR ISSUES AND REACH
CONTRACT AGREEMENTS WITH THE
LABOR. UNIONS AND THAT THAT
WOULD MAKE OUR JOB MUCH EASIER
AND AGAIN. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE
AGAIN TODAY, WHERE CSU HAS NOT
BEEN ABLE TO REACH A CONTRACT
AGREEMENT WITH WITH ITS UNION.
SO IT IS STILL AH, THE ISSUE AND
I WOULD IMPLORE AS I LEAVE AS
CHAIR OF HIGHER EDUCATION, BOTH
UC AND CSU TO DO A BETTER JOB.
SENATOR LABEL FOR THEM TO DO A
BETTER JOB AND REACHING
AGREEMENTS WITH THEIR UNIONS.
AND AS MR SANTIAGO SAYS,
ESPECIALLY THE LOWEST PAID OF
THEIR EMPLOYEES. WITH THAT SAID.
WITH THAT SAID, I ALSO AGREE
WITH MY COLLEAGUES HERE WHO HAVE
ISSUES WITH WHERE THE MONEY IS
COMING FROM. SO LET ME READ
SOMETHING. I WANT TO THANK
SENATOR LEYVA FOR ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS AND FOR HER
LEADERSHIP. WHICH HAS BEEN
THROUGHOUT HER LIFE. AND
SEQUENCING EQUITY AND FAIRNESS
FOR ALL PEOPLE, AND I'VE SEEN
HER BECAUSE I'VE KNOWN HER
BEFORE SHE WAS A STATE SENATOR.
I AM PROUD TO BE THE FLOOR
MANAGER OF THIS MEASURE, BUT I
WILL ALSO POINT OUT THAT AH, IT
IS INDEED A SHAME THAT THE
GOVERNOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE REJECTED THE
LEGISLATURES TO WEIGH BUDGET
AGREEMENT TO INCLUDE THE ONGOING
FUNDING FOR CSU TO IMPLEMENT THE
MERCER RECOMMENDATIONS. AND THEN
I DO HAVE CONCERNS OVER THE
REQUIREMENTS IN THIS MEASURE
THAT MANDATE CSU TO IMPLEMENT%
THE SALARY STEPS WITHOUT THE
RESOURCES. SO WE HAVE POINTED
OUT WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES MR
BLOOM AND MR GABRIEL POINTED OUT
THE CONSEQUENCES THAT THIS COULD
HAVE TO STUDENTS. IF WE DON'T
HAVE THE FUNDS THAT ARE NEEDED.
SO IN THE SHORT TIME THAT IS
LEFT, I WOULD ASK. WHATEVER
EFFORTS CAN BE MADE. SO THAT
ANOTHER WAY IS SOUGHT TO FIND
THE FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT THIS
MEASURE WITH ALL THAT SAID, MY
RECOMMENDATION IS I AND I WILL
VOTE FOR THIS MEASURE TODAY, AND
AS I SAID, I AM PROUD TO BE THE
FLOOR MANAGER ON THIS BILL. SO
WE HAD A MOTION. BYE. DR
ARAMBULA, A SECOND BY MR
SANTIAGO. THE MOTION IS DUE PASS
AS AMENDED TO THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR
. MADAM SECRETARY OF YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASS AS AMENDED TO THE ASSEMBLY
FLOOR. MEDINA MEDINA I. CHOI
CHOI NÓI ARAMBULA. BLOOM. BLEW
MY GABRIEL GABRIEL I IRWIN.
IRWIN I KYLIE KYLIE. NO! LEVINE.
LOW. LOW I SANTIAGO SANTIAGO, I
VALLADARES VALLADARES. AYE,
WEBER. WEBER. AYE. A TO THE BILL
IS OUT. I WILL KEEP THE ROLE
OPEN FOR FIVE MINUTES FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS HO CAN ADD ON THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU
MEMBERS. THANK YOU, SENATOR
LABOR. THANK YOU.
OUR EDUCATION COMMITTEE IS
ADJOURNED.