We've arrived back in the USA. I have been posting on our trip from my iPod touch. Here are the posts related to our 2009 trip to Europe.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Back in the USA
Monday, July 20, 2009
Letter from President Whitmore
In my past two messages to you on the budget, I have discussed how the state's unprecedented revenue shortfall would require SJSU to fundamentally change the way we do business. I have also explained how San Jose State must make plans for covering an anticipated $40 million shortfall, while lawmakers continue working on a budget, because fall term begins next month.
Although we are still finalizing our budget plans, we know that furloughs will be one way we reduce spending. To that end, we have begun to assemble a furlough calendar for the 11-month period ending June 30, 2010. Many employees will take up to 24 furlough days, which works out to a 10 percent pay reduction over the 11 months. The pay reduction will be spread evenly over the 11-month period.
Our Human Resources department, in coordination with the president's cabinet, has drafted a furlough calendar. For now, the calendar applies to nearly all California State University Employees Union (CSUEU) members, confidential administrative support, and MPPs. I say nearly all because we know that there will be employees, very few, who we need to work on furlough days to meet compliance standards and operational requirements. We will provide these employees with alternative furlough calendars.
We are waiting for the chancellor's office to approve our draft furlough calendar. Meanwhile, I am writing today to share with you that SJSU's first planned furlough day for CSUEU members, confidentials and MPPs will be Monday, August 10. We are telling you this now because this is just a few weeks away, and we want you to have enough time to plan for the ways this will affect both your work and personal lives. The Union of American Physicians and Dentists has also agreed to furlough, but may do so on different days from most SJSU employees.
Please understand that our decision to ask you to furlough was not an easy one. However, given the magnitude of our budget shortfall, we have few good choices. No single strategy would yield the funding needed to meet our obligations to our students, employees and the greater community. If nearly every employee furloughs, we will save $18 million in the coming year.
What will a furlough day look like at SJSU? We hope that most of our furlough days will be held on Fridays, which are already relatively quiet on our campus. Most if not all business offices and buildings will be furloughed. However, King Library and University Housing will continue serving the campus community. In addition, the University Police Department will continue patrolling our campus and its environs. For this reason, public safety workers will be exempt from the furlough.
We know many of you will have very specific questions about how the furlough will be carried out. Our Human Resources department is working on addressing all procedural details. More information is forthcoming through emails like this one from me and the president's cabinet, as well as in person from your supervisors.
Meanwhile, bear in mind the following technical information provided by the CSU: "A furlough is a mandated period of time off without pay. Furloughs differ from salary reductions and pay cuts in that they are temporary and do not affect employment status, health benefit eligibility or pay rate for retirement benefits. Employees are not required to work on furlough days."
Should you have questions and concerns, there are a number of resources available to you. Consider speaking with your supervisor or contacting SJSU Employee Relations Manager Cindy Delgado at 408-924-2151 or cindy.delgado@SJSU.edu . You may also submit your questions and comments via the SJSU budget information website. Please keep in mind that SJSU offers free counseling services of many kinds via our CONCERN Employee Assistance Program. I'll provide links to more information at the end of this letter.
Finally, I would like to emphasize the impact of the furloughs on you is a point not lost on me, my senior management team and the chancellor’s office. You will find below a link to a message from the chancellor's office detailing the many ways the budget shortfall will impact all of us. The good news is that we have begun to make the changes needed to align our expenses with our diminished state revenue. I remain confident that with your help we will weather this storm to emerge stronger than ever before.
Sincerely,
Jon Whitmore
Although we are still finalizing our budget plans, we know that furloughs will be one way we reduce spending. To that end, we have begun to assemble a furlough calendar for the 11-month period ending June 30, 2010. Many employees will take up to 24 furlough days, which works out to a 10 percent pay reduction over the 11 months. The pay reduction will be spread evenly over the 11-month period.
Our Human Resources department, in coordination with the president's cabinet, has drafted a furlough calendar. For now, the calendar applies to nearly all California State University Employees Union (CSUEU) members, confidential administrative support, and MPPs. I say nearly all because we know that there will be employees, very few, who we need to work on furlough days to meet compliance standards and operational requirements. We will provide these employees with alternative furlough calendars.
We are waiting for the chancellor's office to approve our draft furlough calendar. Meanwhile, I am writing today to share with you that SJSU's first planned furlough day for CSUEU members, confidentials and MPPs will be Monday, August 10. We are telling you this now because this is just a few weeks away, and we want you to have enough time to plan for the ways this will affect both your work and personal lives. The Union of American Physicians and Dentists has also agreed to furlough, but may do so on different days from most SJSU employees.
Please understand that our decision to ask you to furlough was not an easy one. However, given the magnitude of our budget shortfall, we have few good choices. No single strategy would yield the funding needed to meet our obligations to our students, employees and the greater community. If nearly every employee furloughs, we will save $18 million in the coming year.
What will a furlough day look like at SJSU? We hope that most of our furlough days will be held on Fridays, which are already relatively quiet on our campus. Most if not all business offices and buildings will be furloughed. However, King Library and University Housing will continue serving the campus community. In addition, the University Police Department will continue patrolling our campus and its environs. For this reason, public safety workers will be exempt from the furlough.
We know many of you will have very specific questions about how the furlough will be carried out. Our Human Resources department is working on addressing all procedural details. More information is forthcoming through emails like this one from me and the president's cabinet, as well as in person from your supervisors.
Meanwhile, bear in mind the following technical information provided by the CSU: "A furlough is a mandated period of time off without pay. Furloughs differ from salary reductions and pay cuts in that they are temporary and do not affect employment status, health benefit eligibility or pay rate for retirement benefits. Employees are not required to work on furlough days."
Should you have questions and concerns, there are a number of resources available to you. Consider speaking with your supervisor or contacting SJSU Employee Relations Manager Cindy Delgado at 408-924-2151 or cindy.delgado@SJSU.edu . You may also submit your questions and comments via the SJSU budget information website. Please keep in mind that SJSU offers free counseling services of many kinds via our CONCERN Employee Assistance Program. I'll provide links to more information at the end of this letter.
Finally, I would like to emphasize the impact of the furloughs on you is a point not lost on me, my senior management team and the chancellor’s office. You will find below a link to a message from the chancellor's office detailing the many ways the budget shortfall will impact all of us. The good news is that we have begun to make the changes needed to align our expenses with our diminished state revenue. I remain confident that with your help we will weather this storm to emerge stronger than ever before.
Sincerely,
Jon Whitmore
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Heading away for awhile
From Steve:
I am headed out of the area. I will not have my iPhone when I am gone because AT&T wants to charge me an extra $200 a month for an international data plan. So, no phone or text messaging!
I will have my iPod Touch and so will have e-mail and I will be trying to stay on top of the furlough situation and will continue posting union stuff mostly on my union Twitter Feed.
Please follow that here:
For other (more fun) stuff, I will be posting mostly on my personal Twitter Feed.
Please follow that here:
Saturday, July 04, 2009
My iPhone is staying home
When we go to Europe the only computer I will be taking is my iPod Touch. My iPhone is not going. I called AT&T and they wanted $200 for an international data plan. That's way more than I am willing to pay. My iPod Touch is like an iPhone without the phone or the camera. So, pictures will have to wait until I return.
Sent from my iPod
Thursday, July 02, 2009
CFA responds on furloughs
According to a post in the State Worker, a Sacramento Bee blog, "CSU faculty union rejects management 'pig in a poke' furlough plan." According to the Bee blog, the California Faculty Association (CFA) said:
"Would you buy a "pig in a poke" -- in this case, a pay cut deal composed of vague promises about what is inside the paper bag? CFA won't. [Read More]
CFA represents 23,000 professors, lecturers, librarians, counselors and coaches who teach in the California State University system. Just about everyone I have spoken to says if CFA does not agree to furloughs they will not happen and instead we will be facing massively massive layoffs, as opposed to less massive layoffs with furloughs.
Here is a link to a PDF formatted letter dated July 1 from CFA union leadership to faculty in the CSU system.
I have a Twitter feed I try to keep up to date about this issue on a real-time basis. Please feel free to check it out and/or subscribe here:
http://twitter.com/my_union
Technorati Tags: San Jose State University, California State University, San Jose, ssloansjca
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Music and Yoga near SJSU
Within a short walk of San Jose State University is a special place, Downtown Yoga Shala. Shala, a “sacred space” in Sanskrit, is just that. It is a wonderful yoga studio that has made a big difference in my life. Located at 450 S. 1st Street the Shala is in San Jose's blossoming South First Art (SoFA) District and is surrounded by art galleries.
On June 26, 2009 the Shala had a Candlelight Yoga Class taught by Jeff Lang featuring live music. Girish played wonderful music and the result was unlike anything I have ever seen or photographed. Veronica Cruz, a good friend and the owner of the Shala did a great job setting up this event!
Technorati Tags: San Jose State University, San Jose, ssloansjca
CSU (SJSU) budget related Tweets
These links off Twitter this morning are very interesting:
- Here's the Chancellor's message on CFA/furloughs...
http://bit.ly/gVWCT - CSU Urges Faculty Union to Bring Furlough Option to Members for Vote
http://bit.ly/a53SD - CSU Trustees to Hold Special Meeting on July 7th
http://bit.ly/BZk2C
Budget to be discussed... - Future worker supply at risk as cuts squeeze higher education - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
http://bit.ly/6KeRR
For more updates please check out my union Twitter feed.
Technorati Tags: San Jose State University, California State University, San Jose, ssloansjca
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Is CSU furlough proposal a red herring?
Commentary
The California State University Employees Union (CSUEU), the union that represents most classified staff employees, surveyed its constituents. Over 82% of those who responded voted for the California State University (CSU) plan to offer furloughs to mitigate layoffs in the CSU system. Still it is hard for me to imagine all the unions that represent California State University employees will go for furloughs.
The plan, which will close CSU campuses two Fridays a month, may offer faculty too little. Most faculty do not teach Fridays. For them the CSU plan is a ten percent pay cut. Classified staff get two extra days off a month in return for their reduced pay. For most faculty it can be seen as a pay cut with no visible workload reduction yet seen.
The California Faculty Association (CFA) may not be that enthusiastic about this option. CFA may turn the furlough proposal down. If the union that represents CSU faculty does not sign off on furloughs, they cannot happen.
What does CSU management have to gain if this happens? Absent furloughs, CSU management has said there will be massive layoffs. Staff will be hit hard. CSU management could do layoffs and have the excuse that they were "forced into it" by the union(s) who turned down furloughs. This could cause bitterness between the staff and faculty that could last for a long time.
Yes, that does sound cynical; I know.
Technorati Tags: San Jose State University, California State University, San Jose, ssloansjca
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Staff union vote favors furloughs
The CSU Employees Union (CSUEU) represents over 16,000 employees on 23 CSU campuses and in the office of the chancellor. Its bargaining units comprise the majority of non-academic (classified) employees in the state university system. Recently the CSUEU announced the results of a survey of its members. According to the union, the union members voted overwhelmingly to support furloughs as opposed to layoffs:
In a series of advisory votes over the last week, CSUEU members have clearly indicated their support for the concept of two furlough days per month, as proposed earlier this month by the Chancellor’s Office.
The results of the votes taken at the chapter level are reflected in the chart below. An online survey and a scientific poll came to the same result: CSUEU-represented employees support the concept of furloughs at the rate of approximately 82 percent in favor. [Read More]
This does not mean there will not be layoffs at SJSU or in the CSU system, this still has to be negotiated at the bargaining table and is subject to the state budget outcome.
Technorati Tags: San Jose State University, California State University, San Jose, ssloansjca
Monday, June 22, 2009
BEWARE - Lies to get your passwords
If you get an e-mail that says this:
WARNING!!! Dear sjsu.edu e-mail owner,
This message is from San Jose State University Webmail Team messaging center to all sjsu.edu e-mail owners. We are currently upgrading our data base and e-mail center. We are deleting all unused sjsu.edu e-mail accounts to create space for new ones...
It is a LIE!
If your log-in information has been compromised, you need to immediately change your password on all accounts you have unintentionally given up information on.
Also, these kind of spammers are aware that many people use the same user names and/or passwords in multiple places, like bank accounts, ebay and/or Amazon. So, you should change the passwords on any and all of these accounts that have the same password, even if the user name is different.
More information is here and here.
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