A response from the Chair of Staff Assembly

Over the past several months, there have been many changes. We have had a new Chancellor, significantly more bad news regarding the budget, the reality of furloughs and alternative salary reduction programs such as temporary layoffs, and many other major campus organizationally changes such as consolidations. It is likely that within each of your departments you have seen many changes as well. It is important to not only be open to discuss changes and your feelings about these changes and it is also important to make sure that the facts are straight. Perspectives are important but perspectives that do not reflect factual information result in a distorted view of the issues.

The administration as well as the Academic Senate is helping in the effort to make sure they present information and every staff member must have the confidence to ask questions to clarify perceptions and assumptions.

Staff Assembly continues to inform campus administrators and the Academic Senate about what we have heard are staff concerns. The Staff Assembly Executive Committee recently met with Chancellor Katehi to raise a variety of concerns and perceptions by staff. Similarly, I have met with Academic Senate Chair Bob Powell to exchange perspectives by staff and faculty. What has resulted from these conversations is clarification of various issues, some that are more complex than can be explained in the scope of this article. These are the concerns that arise when information is not available or not presented in a way that many staff members understand.

We asked the difficult questions many continue to ask such as “why do faculty continue to receive a merit during these difficult times?” Again, the answer is not something easily discussed in this article. However, the discussion led to a very important question that should be the right one to ask “what is the university doing about staff compensation, especially those that fall significantly below the market levels?” The ability to recruit and retain our high quality staff might be the more appropriate question rather than a comparison to faculty. At the fundamental level, the university sees compensation as an equitable exchange for work performed where equity is defined by the larger market. Comparing staff compensation with faculty compensation maybe more like comparing a doctor’s compensation with a lawyer’s compensation. These are different fields with different expectations and skill sets. It is more appropriate to look at what staff members are being paid (including benefits) as compared to someone else doing similar work in Sacramento or Davis.

This perspective change allows us to address the issues properly. Should the university continue to look at areas where equity with the market remains an issue with staff? Are there mechanisms, even during these budget difficulties to address these? The answer is most definitely yes. Associate Vice Chancellor Karen Hull was at the Staff Assembly meeting with the Chancellor and identified a variety of options. What this means in the near future is that we hope to do a follow up article and work closely with Karen Hull to inform staff, supervisors, managers, and senior administrators of equity issues that can be addressed even during these difficult times.

As we see more forums provided and opportunities for staff members to contribute in providing information or participating in the decision making process, I am encouraged. We are not only seeing greater transparency as staff have opportunities to know the facts before decisions are made, but we are also included in contributing right next to faculty, students, alumni, and retirees.

However, what this means is that we have a far greater responsibility than before to have the facts right. Hearsay and even information presented needs to be verified with other sources to ensure we are not operating from false information, assumptions, and pretenses. Each of us needs to learn to ask questions and ask “does that make sense” and “who else would know about this issue that I could ask”. Part of that is each of our abilities to read official information as well as participate in forums. Part of that is being able to ask questions such as at the most recent Staff Open Forum on October 15.

There continues to be opportunities to contribute to the decision making process. Staff Assembly continues to need volunteers to be part of our own committees to review critical information and provide feedback. The Chancellor has asked us to be part of a committee that will consider how to strengthen our research enterprise, ensuring continued and increased success in securing research funding. We will look for staff members who work significantly in supporting research to be part of Staff Assembly and this committee. This allows us to not only be in the know on the present day circumstances but to contribute to the shape of the future.

I continue to encourage everyone to read, participate, ask questions, and help us to help staff members during these difficult times.

Peter Blando
Chair
Staff Assembly