CSUS workers rally to stop layoffs

TURLOCK -- Employees and union representatives at California State University, Stanislaus, waved signs and chanted at a rally Monday morning aimed at saving the jobs of co-workers set to lose them at the end of the month.

Earlier this year, CSUS announced that 11 staff members would be laid off or have their hours reduced as part of ongoing cuts the university has had to make as state funding has fallen. In making the announcement, President Ham Shirvani called it "a very sad moment both for the affected individuals and the campus as a whole."

Union officials set up Monday's rally in advance of meetings with the administration Monday and today.

"We want to try and find a way to mitigate those layoffs," said John Watson, communications officer for the union. So far, at least one of the affected employees has found a position on another campus. Other possibilities include changing jobs on campus or reducing hours further.

Representatives from other CSU campuses, including Fresno, San Francisco and Channel Islands, attended the rally as a show of support.

Dave Tonelli, associate vice president for communications and public affairs, said the cuts were unfortunate but necessary for a university trying to keep as many teaching positions as possible. Two of the positions lost are in his department.

"Initially, it looked like we might have to lay off more people," he said. He pointed out that 80 percent of CSUS' budget is in salaries, and with funding from the state in free-fall, the university didn't have any other option.

In 2007-08, the state allocated $63 million to Stanislaus. By 2010-11, that figure had fallen to $56.5 million. This year's cuts, so far, leave Stanislaus with about $49 million.

"When you get down to the severe levels of cuts we've had, there's no other place to get the money," Tonelli said.

And there's a good chance more cuts are ahead. Unless revenues improve, the CSU system stands to lose an additional $100 million from the state at midyear. Stanislaus' share would be about $2.2 million.

So far this year, Stanislaus accounts for the majority of the staff layoffs throughout the university system. According to data on the union's Web site, the Turlock campus issued layoff or cutback notices to 11 of the 14 affected employees throughout the system. Two others are on the Fresno campus and one in the chancellor's office.

Union representatives pledged to fight for their members' jobs.

"We, all of us, can stand up and fight back," said Neil Jacklin, a lab technician at CSU, Stanislaus. "We can stand together and support one another; stand with me and let your voice be heard."

Bee staff writer Patty Guerra can be reached at pguerra@modbee.com or (209) 578-2343.