CSEA Chapter 304, Sonoma State University
How to join || Why join? || Questions and Answers
To join CSEA call or email any of your local union representatives on campus or visit CSEA's membership page where you can join online or print an application form.
The number ONE reason to join the CSEA union is to bring as much labor power as we can to the bargaining table.
At Sonoma State University we work under a union negotiated contract which determines how much we will be paid, how we will receive raises, what kinds of benefits we will receive and more.
Even though as a member of unit 2, 5, 7 or 9 you benefit from Union negotiations with the CSU, being a dues paying member of the Union gives more clout to our negotiators. When the CSU looks at Union membership they only tally dues paying members.
At this point in time, less than 20% of all eligible employees in the CSU are paying CSEA Union members. When CSEA bargains for us, the CSU can argue that Union proposals are not backed by the majority of CSU employees since most employees are not paying members of the union. This allows the CSU to assume that employees who are not paying members agree with their proposals. This perspective is incorrect.
During the last negotiations the CSEA Union was opposed to the salary structure of Performance Based Salary Increases or PBSI's initiated by the CSU. This program gives your supervisor complete control over whether or not you receive any performance based salary increases. As the negotiations progressed they reached a point where CSEA would have been in a much more powerful position if they could have called for labor action on the part of the membership. But since our membership numbers are so low, they could not bring any significant action behind their opposition and the PBSI became part of our contract. Most staff, and many faculty, at Sonoma State University are very unhappy with the PBSI program.
During the latest bargaining process, CSEA presented over 1000 signatures on petitions asking for the elimination of the PBSI program. In the tentative agreement, the PBSI program has been suspended for the next two years. We can make a difference!
Your membership in CSEA can give us the labor power we need NOW to maintain a strong voice within the CSU for staff.
Answer: You can thank CSEA for all the things you like about your job - competitive salary scales, training and internal promotion, fee waiver, the retirement system, health plans, life insurance, dental insurance, disability insurance, the grievance procedure, legal protection, classification standards, information and representation. Those are just a few things.
Answer: CSEA has been in the forefront of state budget battles, fighting for secure university funding and legislation like the Golden Handshake Early Retirement Program. In bargaining we have protected employee health careagainst cuts, achieved pay increases and improved dental and vision epresents thousands of members? That's something employers must pay attention to. The university needs to be impressed by the quality of the dedication employees bring to their union and their job-related demands.
That means membership. We need to show the university we are serious -- otherwise it will not take us or you seriously.
Answer: Maybe you are right. Sometimes. But let's deal with CSEA. We stand on our own record. Our constitution and bylaws say that our interests as public employees are the same as general public interests. Our history shows that we have lived up to that concept.
Answer: I could go on and on. But let's take the example of equal employment opportunities.
CSEA believes in equal pay for equal work and that is in the public interest because it helps attract and retain qualified employees. We research salary rates in public and private industry for salary lags and comparable worth inequities. Our mutual goal with the university is a satisfied and productive work force.Answer: CSEA provides the fuel that makes the system go. It's a never-ending job to keep the university system in working order through consistent evaluations and well-designed classification standards so that employees can advance on the basis of their performance rather than on the basis of whom they know.
Answer: CSEA's stewards are trained in the contract and are familiar with the classification system. They can give you expert advice to identify out-of-class work situations, increased pay requirements and reclassification opportunities. Representatives can suggest ways of dealing with the supervisor and/or personnel and if necessary represent you in a grievance to enforce your contractual rights.
Although not every employee has to file a grievance, almost everyone has a question about the contract and its enforcement in their particular work situation. CSEA represents thousands of employees in grievances and advises many thousands more on the details of the law and our collective bargaining agreement. Although no one can guarantee a "win," we can give you the most important tools in tackling a problem -- information and support.
Answer: Your opinion would count for less for the same reasons we were talking about earlier. If you want a louder voice you need a bigger megaphone. Only the union can go to the bargaining table and negotiate on salaries, benefits and working conditions. Committees and councils have no voice on these important issues.
Answer: If you think your job is less important that your spouse's, that would be a reason for not joining. But a poor reason and one that could cost you your job or reduce your personal opportunities in university service.
Also look at the benefits picture alone. If both of you are covered by CSEA benefit programs both of you are entitled to maximum payments for health problems, disability, dental care or other types of insurance.
Finally since both of you benefit from CSEA programs both of you should help out with your membership.
Answer: How were you getting along before CSEA won you your last pay increase, or the last increase in university support of your health insurance, or improved dental benefits, dependent care and FlexCash -- to name just a few things?
Answer: If you were a member you would help make those decisions. You would belong to a chapter and be represented by a bargaining unit council serving your occupational group. Your voice would help determine legislation, bargaining proposals, union officers, negotiating teams and dues rates.
In all probability your chapter has or soon will have meetings to discuss the contract and new bargaining proposals. They will want to know what you have experienced in the workplace and what needs to be improved.
Union committees develop goals relating to salaries and conditions of employment. Under collective bargaining CSEA negotiates contracts affecting each bargaining unit it represents.
CSEA is divided into four divisions -- California State University, civil service rank-and-file, retired employees and supervisory. CSU and civil service have their own bargaining units. Supervisory employees use traditional methods to advance and protect their interests. Retired employees also follow traditional representation techniques. Each division is responsible for its own goals but each has the full backing of the entire CSEA.
The director of each division, elected by its constituents, conducts division business. Each division council votes on the budget, policy implementation and other actions.
The Board of Directors meets at least five times per year. Your division director, who is elected by members throughout the state, is a member of the board along with regional directors, statewide officers and other division directors. This board makes decisions on all matters that need immediate attention and which are not the legal responsibility of the bargaining units.
CSEA has numerous statewide committees that deal with such technical subjects as retirement, insurance, classification, personnel rules and political action. Any member can speak at sessions of these committees. Any chapter or bargaining unit council can bring its problems to the proper committee.
The General Council is CSEA's highest governing body. It is composed of the Board of Directors, assistant regional directors, delegates from the chapters and councils and past CSEA presidents. It has the power to change any internal CSEA procedure and to establish any program that is not the legal responsibility of a bargaining unit.
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