UCSB Community Resists Salary Slashing, Furlough Proposals

Many Californians have endured 10% or greater pay cuts since the Bush-Obama-Pelosi economic meltdown began. The UC retirement system is still fairly intact, while numerous private-sector employees have lost their entire retirement held in employer-based stock funds and 401Ks. The pay cuts are tough especially for lower-paid UC employees, but must be viewed in the context of the overall economy. Some of the complaints above about the furloughs sound pretty arrogant.

Just this week, Chevron in Richmond CA announced 1000 plus layoffs after a judge ordered refinery expansion stopped based on a complaint by a small environmental group. Hundreds more jobs will probably be lost at the NUMMI auto factory in Richmond due to GMs ending production there. The fanatic environmental and tax policies of the Left-dominated state government are chasing tax-generating jobs and businesses out of California. At the same time, the state continues to be flooded by poorly educated and poorly paid (if working at all) immigrants. But we are not allowed to question the adverse economic impacts of current unbalanced immigration policies without being condemned as racist by some UC Professor. A large percentage of UC faculty hold the job-killing political views that have led to the loss of tax revenue and resulting budget cuts. In the words of Reverend Wright -- "The chickens have come home to roost."

Revisionist - what an apt name.

Funny that Bush blamed all his problems on Clinton. Now, hardly six months in, Bush's eight years of failure are suddenly Obama's fault. Forget the greed and corruption on Wall Street, especially Goldman Sachs, thanks to deregulation. Forget the impact of Enron and Prop 13 on California, and the 2/3rds rule that leaves any change impossible. Forget that GM is reaping the results of their shortsightedness - which is supposed to happen in "free-markets" - i.e. that companies that perform poorly should fail.

Don't pay attention to the effect of health companies who preach free market theories but practice monopolies. A large number of personal bankruptcies over at least the last 8 years are because of medical costs, the highest in the world with unimpressive statistics.

And there is more.... all there for those who like to be informed.

University employees are lucky. Their paid holidays are the most generous of the state and local government agencies. Health and dental benefits are also excellent and are offered to employees on a sliding fee schedule, depending on employee income. UCRS is one of the best retirement systems in the nation and all campuses are sited in the most desirable geographic areas of the state. Hard to figure why employees thought they needed unions to improve on the benefits and working conditions.

There is waste on every campus, in particular the embarrassingly poor work ethic, mediocre work productivity and the existence of a country club atmosphere. There are hardworking employees but there are also employees who put in the minimum effort, year after year, yet get paid more than fairly for just showing up and sauntering around the paradises these campuses are. Political infighting wastes a tremendous amount money and productive energy. Policies and procedures protect the poorest performing employees and the misuse of university assets.

Furloughs may be necessary in the short run and why should the UC be exempt from the affects of the economic free fall going on in California and the nation? The chickens have come home to roost.

University leaders, not necessarily those with leadership titles, need to conduct an objective self-study and figure out how to revitalize and streamline the institution. It wouldn't take much creative thinking to correct some of the glaring inefficiencies, ludicrous policies and procedures that treat administrators like independent contractors, and reduce the costs of running these gold-plated ivory towers.

Tabatha, I agree with you wholeheartedly!

"Just this week, Chevron in Richmond CA announced 1000 plus layoffs after a judge ordered refinery expansion stopped based on a complaint by a small environmental group."
- Revisionist

Irrelevant to UC budget. The judge in that case found Chevron's EIR to be heavily flawed. If Chevron is going to be emitting heavy metals, local government has a right to know so public health decisions can be made. Counting those construction jobs as real jobs is like counting eggs before they hatch.

"Hundreds more jobs will probably be lost at the NUMMI auto factory in Richmond due to GMs ending production there."
- Revisionist

Again, not relevant. GM dug its own grave.

"The fanatic environmental and tax policies of the Left-dominated state government are chasing tax-generating jobs and businesses out of California."
- Revisionist

One could say its really the minority Republicans who are holding the state economy (and tax policies) hostage via the 2/3rds rule in Prop 13.

"There are hardworking employees but there are also employees who put in the minimum effort, year after year, yet get paid more than fairly for just showing up and sauntering around the paradises these campuses are."
-gsjoh

As for myself, I prefer the sauntering of nubile coeds :)

Difficult to tell whether those are facts or perceptions you're dishing up. Have you been in a professor's office lately? Most are nothing to write home about.

The UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) is in deep trouble. It is worth remembering that California taxpayers haven't contributed anything to it since 1990... in sharp contrast to just about all other public employee pension systems in California.

Like 401(k)'s, the UCRP has lost about 1/2 its assets since the economic meltdown started. Actuaries say a 17% of payroll contribution is due this year. At most the State will make a 4% contribution. This situation is in sharp contrast to other public employees in California, where payments into their retirement systems will be breaking budgets in the next few years.

But for other State and local government employees, there is no talk of reducing the pension contribution due this year. UC is unique in this respect... a 13% of payroll cut to pension contributions is being made to UC employees only. Haters of public employee pensions should be applauding this situation and crediting UC, not deriding it.

Many inside UC believe their pensions are toast and have been contributing significantly to their 403(b)'s and 457's (which are like 401(k)'s).

UC, unlike other state employers, does comparisons of compensation with other public institutions. Salaries are now about 15% low, but if the pension stays and does not go bankrupt, UC overall compensation is in parity with other institutions.

Those who believe that the UC pension system is toast and are contributing to their 403's are thus 30% below comparison institutions. these cuts take them down to like 40% below comparisons. That does not take into account the increased cost of living in California compared to, say, Buffalo, NY.

For most public employees in California, like, lets say, Prison Guards, no comparisons with other states is made, and cost of living in California is usually taken into account.

UC has been an incredible engine of growth for California. Amgen grew out of UCSB research. Silicon Valley and engineering in the Bay Area have been heavily stimulated by Berkeley and Santa Cruz (and of course, Stanford and Santa Clara too). That a small minority of humanities and social science professors may (or may not) have growth constraining views is really immaterial.

"That a small minority of humanities and social science professors may (or may not) have growth constraining views is really immaterial."

Professors in the sciences may not have "growth constraining" views, but I would bet the majority of them also vote for "Progressive" Democrats regularly, and thus contribute to the problem. Just drive around the side of campus with the science departments and look at the bumper stickers.

So if you found Digital Instruments or Amgen and happen to have a bumper sticker on your car that says `stop global warming' you are a drag on the State of California?

What do you have to do to be viewed as a positive contributor to the State? Where a lapel-pin that says `I heart Sarah Palin'? Or, perhaps, `I think the heads of large health insurance companies and Bear-Stearns *earned* their $200 million a year'.

"So if you found Digital Instruments or Amgen and happen to have a bumper sticker on your car that says `stop global warming' you are a drag on the State of California?"

The answer is yes. The bumper sticker says I'm entitled to fly in a jet and drive my hybrid SUV, while everyone else should ride the bus. The elite thinks we're only good enough to work in Abel Maldonaldo's strawberry fields or Nancy Pelosi's vineyards, instead of in factories building automobiles and aircraft for decent wages and benefits. This isn't a Republican or Democrat issue -- its the transnational progressives versus what's left of America.

Nearly everyone is the the same boat. Even Harvard is cutting positions and looking at pay cuts as well.
The silver lining is home prices, rent cost, cars, and most consumer goods are now available at large discounts.
10% pay cuts seem to be the norm. I would do the 10% cuts and not give days off as I do not think this is a short term thing.
Santa Barbara has never paid a premium because of the cost of living here. The premium the employee gets it the weather and lifestyle.

Wow, revisionist, you are way out there... you presume an awful lot from a single bumper sticker. You might examine your connections a little, or perhaps ride the bus a few times with Walter Kohn, who, yes, regularly rides the MTD even though he's got a Nobel Prize.

There are hypocrites on all political sides. But there is a Californian way, and it is to focus on the real contributions and ignore what is immaterial. A fantastic breakthrough can come from anywhere... from a communist, a conservative, or especially a kook.

Most UCSB employees are not resisting these cuts...perhaps there are some that go to these meetings - but most realize that considering how much everyone else has already given up - we have to take a cut too.

Personally I think there does need to be some targeted layoffs. Hopefully the unproductive employees will be cut. But unfortunately it will probably be the newer employees that get cut. That means me. Oh well... Hopefully I can make use of the furlough time to go out and find a new job somewhere...I hate to leave California but I guess I'll have to look.

Revisionist is right. the rest of you are too brainwashed to know better. perfect products of the UC system, they need and want more like you! Keep voting for the "system" and learn how to pick berries and pedal your bikes. Cause there ain't gonna be much left of Cal-EEE-for-NEEE-AH if we keep voting the Leftist-Obama path. And I say that as a homegrown native. If you insist on being as ignorant as the illegals and commie-leftists, you will get your "paradise." And those of us with good jobs who don't want to pay for all your "programs" will leave the state. PS - GM dug its own grave on the back of UNIONS - where benefits - not industry innovations - were paramount. YES - they deserved to fail, but not for the reasons Revisionists' detractors point out. Jeez folks. WAKE UP!

Good post sevendolphins. Its the rare post these days that informs rather than spews invective.

On the other hand, let me summarize the previous post:

- I agree with Revisionist.
- Those who don't are brainwashed.
- UC graduates are brainwashed.
- I hate the President, illegal immigrants & communists.

Quite the contrast indeed.

Yo, spewing invective. Me thinks thou dost "project" too much. Come on people. Where is the beef? Y'all are the reason this state (courtesy of your hallowed Democratic leftist representatives and union leaders) is the WORST PLACE IN THE NATION to do business! And the UC system trains the "workers" who are not even able to find jobs now! Yikes. I'm glad I lived here for over 50 years when it was still the Golden State, not a fading pipe dream.

UCSB should cut an entire week from each of the three "quarters" thus showing the public that you just can't keep starving the U. and imagine the quality of education hasn't been deeply affected. As Prof. Lichtenstein suggests, in order to defend the University not just defund it "the people" need to see the vicious impact on students, especially incoming undergrads, from these budget cuts/furloughs/reductions.

"Yo, spewing invective. Me thinks thou dost "project" too much."

It's an objective fact that you repeatedly spew invective, and EastBeach didn't.