April 28, 2009

Assemblymember Anthony Portantino
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0044
Fax: (916) 319-2144

Re: AB 53 as amended April 14, 2009 — Support if further amended

Dear Assemblymember Portantino,

We agree that this dire fiscal situation requires sacrifice. Indeed, in the present circumstances the University of California certainly has no plans for upward salary range adjustments and has already highly restricted the possibilities for compensation increases at the highest levels. Further, a new Regental Standing Order that would set policy on the implementation of furloughs or salary reductions is presently under review. Thus the University is moving to address the underlying concerns of this bill.

Until new Regental policy is in place, we are concerned that this bill, as presently written, will violate previously negotiated contracts, leading to costly litigation. The proposal should be rewritten such that the provisions of this bill do not modify existing contractual obligations, including eligibility for merit increases.

If the Legislature wishes to specifically address the top end of the income spectrum at the University, we suggest that the authors clarify section 7-b-3-f to apply the bill’s provisions only to those members of the Senior Leadership Compensation Group whose compensation is directly set by the UC Regents.

Respectfully yours,
Joe Kiskis
CUCFA Vice President for External Relations,
and Professor of Physics, UC Davis