Contract Bargaining

• The 2007-2009 Current Contract from CSUEU (MS-Word Document)
• Bargaining Updates and Current Contract from CSUEU

Questions About Bargaining

Who makes bargaining decisions?

You do. You vote for the bargaining unit representatives, you propose contract changes, you answer the surveys, you tell the bargaining team what you care about most, and you lobby the CSU to make sure they know you care about what's happening at the negotiating table. Finally, you vote on the contract. If members don't approve the contract, it isn't adopted.

Who's on the bargaining team?

The bargaining team consists of experienced negotiators from CSUEU staff and elected CSUEU team members. The elected CSUEU team members are the CSUEU president, the vice president for representation, and the chair and vice chair of each Bargaining Unit Council.

Can I contact the team directly?

Yes! They want to hear from you. Contact your own Bargaining Unit reps, or the entire team. It's helpful to copy your chapter president and bargaining unit rep, but if you prefer not to you don't have to.

Does it really make a difference to speak up?

Yes. The bargaining surveys are a way to quickly get a sense of how a larger number of represented employees feel. Emailing a team member, especially your Bargaining Unit Chair and Vice Chair, lets you get your point across with more precision and detail than a survey allows. Do you have an example of how something in the current contract helps or harms you? Tell them. Would one of the current CSU proposals hurt you? Tell them how. The more your representatives hear from you, the better they can represent you.

Does it really make a difference to lobby the CSU?

Yes. The CSU hopes employees will shrug helplessly and ignore bargaining. By showing that you're watching -- turning out for marches, writing letters, publicizing their actions, and showing your support for CSUEU -- you do have an impact on bargaining.

Does it really make a difference whether I join the union?

Yes. If you are not a member, the CSU's position is that you are happy with the CSU proposals and don't want any improvements the union is seeking. If you want your salary to decrease every year in real dollars while your workload increases, and if you want your rights eroded and ever-increasing numbers of CSU managers to reap ever-increasing pay, then don't join. If you care about the university serving students effectively, without wasting money on sweetheart deals with overpriced contractors and overpaid managers, and you want to vote on your own employment contract, then join the union.

CSUEU Chapter 320