California Faculty Association, Northridge Chapter

October 2006 Senate Report

Dear Senators, guests and administrators:

CFA was asked to submit a written report for the October Faculty Senate meeting and be ready to answer questions from Senators if the need arose.  The current status of contract bargaining is that the CSU has asked the State of California’s PERB to declare an impasse in bargaining and that was recently agreed to by PERB.   While a state of impasse currently exists, CFA has asked that the CSU return to the table and start working to get faculty a fair contract.   

The CSU is using various means to communicate to faculty, for example on campus email blasts and on some campuses even taking out costly student newspaper ads.  In these CSU messages they imply that salary is the only issue holding back an agreement and if faculty would only agree all would be settled.  At the same time they applied for the impasse declaration with PERB by indicating that almost no progress was made in 18 months of negotiations, directly contradicting their own communications and attempting to renege on the hard work done by both sides at the bargaining table.  In our opinion this is an attempt to sidestep their responsibility to bargain fairly with faculty.  As such we have filed an unfair labour practice against the CSU.

To date, our overall response has been measured and responsible considering that faculty members are angry, they are in need of a raise now and they need of workload relief now.  This level of civility will soon end if no progress is seen from the CSU.  On November 15, 2006 we will be conducting a protest at the Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach and ask all faculty to attend in solidarity for a fair contract and as a show of force.  Statewide CFA believes that the November 15, 2006 event will be the start of our counteractions against CSU propaganda and to get them to give us a fair contract NOW.  If your faculty members wish to see a good contract anytime soon they need to join CFA on this day of protest and solidarity.  They need to get on the bus and go to Long Beach to tell the CSU we need better wages, better working conditions and we need these now.

Faculty members on this campus are very angry and based on their suggestions for job actions we are considering dramatic campus based actions to draw media attention to the problems of the CSU/CSUN and force an agreement on the contract.  Please note the attachment is a listing of their suggestions and does not represent an official endorsement of any job action therein.    At this time we are starting our own campus campaign called “No Business as Usual” in anticipation of what promises to be a protracted and serious labour dispute.  Please encourage your colleagues to attend the Nov 15 event and to help themselves get a fair contract.  They may contact the CFA office on campus for details and to RSVP (818.677.5919 or cfa.office@csun.edu)

Sincerely,   

James David Ballard, CSUN CFA Chapter President.                                           Enclosure

CAMPUS ACTION SUGGESTIONS

The CFA CSUN Chapter wishes to thank all of the contributing faculty for their many suggestions about types of job actions CSUN faculty should take on this campus to gain media attention to our cause, to get a better contract and more effectively help our faculty with the serious problems related to poor working conditions, excessive workload, and a failing campus climate – all of which I agree are terrible and in much need of help by CSUN administrators if we are to retain faculty, serve our students effectively, and bolster sagging morale.  The following is a list of actions proposed by faculty members at CSUN and does not represent any endorsement by CSUN CFA. 

Just for clarification, we can not just strike, the process must play out over time and by state administrative law, so this is not a viable option right now.  I do understand CSUN faculty frustration and their intense desires to strike now.  The attach list is offered to gather comments from faculty and to represent the many cries for us to do something dramatic on campus to draw attention to the problems we all face. 

• Grade out.  The complete withholding of grades.   In the alternative the “delay” option for grades mentioned by many – waiting till after deadlines to turn in grades.  Overloading the system with incompletes and grade changes are closely related ideas.

• Large donor targeting.  Contacting the “A” list folks with a campaign of anti-giving to CSUN or as many suggested temporary withholding of any gifts until the administration starts treating faculty right.  A powerful letter to these donors from the many faculty members on campus already on board with this idea is possible.  Likewise targeting alumni lists for your departments was a similar course of action proposed.  The letter to these donors should indicate that what is happening is the death of the very institution they loved and what the university use to be, past tense, a place where faculty could have that meaningful interaction with students that many remember as the hallmark of the CSU. 

• No committee work.  As many suggested we as faculty members have the option of saying no to assessment, accreditation, committee and other administrative work on campus, in individual cases just not showing up for committee work is one strategy and insisting that there be quorum calls (where appropriate) will slow the administrative system down in other cases.

• Tell Jolene – that slogan is viable and like the “Ask Jolene” campaign seems to be very popular with faculty – they like the more proactive stances it implies.  It allows us to be respectful (my concern) and allows us to let the faculty focus their anger at their intended target – the person on campus who sets policy, who influences salaries the most, and who has that direct connection to bargaining.   

• Tell The World – Many have suggested a direct campaign against the president and her house.  The idea is to blanket her neighborhood with signs, flyers, etc detailing what we see as the serious problems with the various campus scandals that have/are arising. 

• Faculty Talk Watch – Public Speaking Watch – The reported comments from your colleagues about what the President says regarding faculty, CFA, staff, and other negative comments are critical to keep colleting.  We are documenting these public comments.  Remember we need every detail – day, time and place/event are critical information to report back to CFA when letting us know what she is saying that is offensive to faculty, anti-faculty, anti-union, and so on. 

• Park-in on first days of class.  The idea of a massive non-violent protest on the first days of classes by faculty.  The deliberate use of personal vehicles to obstruct traffic and cause a major media event and raise awareness in those who attempt to come to campus during the ensuing traffic snarl.   

• Mass protest and organized arrest of faculty and students.  Many on campus worked on the recent labour unrest at LAX.  These organizers have suggested that we consider a similar protest on campus to publicize the plight of faculty and students who would rather face jail then the working and learning conditions presently in place. 

• Continued peaceful attempts to gain recognition of our worth and lobbying for a fair contract.  Here we work with administrators and see what accommodations we can work out on this campus. 

• Toxic U.  The idea is to present a consistent message to the campus and with our actions.  The “Toxic U” and other such ideas we have discussed do represent an end game level of labour action.   

• Other ideas - teach-ins, mask days, walk out, blue flu days, college specific strikes, department specific actions, and many others are still be catalogued.   

If your faculty members wish to comment on these ideas or offer additional suggestions please have them contact the CFA Office on campus directly.  We can be reached at 818.677.5919 or cfa.office@csun.edu.  Please also encourage them to attend the November 15, 2006 event at the Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach – transportation will be provided.