From: Warren Kessler <warren_kessler@csufresno.edu

Subject: CFA Letter to Munitz re. CETI & Bargaining Rights

THE FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF A LETTER SENT YESTERDAY BY TERRY JONES, CFA STATE PRESIDENT, TO CHANCELLOR MUNITZ. IT INVOKES "MEET AND CONFER" RIGHTS, WHICH IS LEGAL PARLANCE FOR BARGAINING RIGHTS. CFA CLEARLY CONSIDERS THE CETI PROPOSAL A SERIOUS CONCERN IN TERMS OF FACULTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY THAT WORK COULD BE ASSIGNED TO FACULTY TO HELP PAY OFF THE DEBT OF THE CSU TO THE PARTICIPATING COMPANIES AND THAT THE OFFERING OF DISTANCE LEARNING COULD SUPPLANT THE NEED FOR FACULTY JOBS THEMSELVES.

FOR THESE REASONS, AMONG OTHERS, CFA IS EXERCISING ITS LEGAL OPTION OF DEMANDING NEGOTIATIONS ON WORKING CONDITION IMPLICATIONS OF THE CETI PROPOSAL.

CFA IS ALSO PREPARING TO TESTIFY ON THIS ISSUE NEXT WEEK AT THE TRUSTEES' MEETING. WE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A NUMBER OF SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING TOM RANKIN, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE 1.6 MILLION MEMBER CALIFORNIA AFL-CIO.

STAY TUNED. Warren

November 4, 1997

Barry Munitz
Chancellor
California State University
400 Golden Shore, #324
Long Beach, CA 90802

Dear Chancellor Munitz:

The purpose of this letter is to request formally a meet and confer session under HEERA on the CETI project. CFA representatives want to meet with you and/or your designee as soon as possible to discuss the potential impact of this project on the faculty.

CFA appreciates the fact that Maynard Robinson, CETI's General Manager, answered questions at our Assembly last month, and met with a small group of >> CFA leaders for a more detailed discussion of CETI this past weekend.

However, we believe that this project is being unnecessarily rushed to completion on a fast track without the amount and type of consultation with the faculty that is appropriate for a project as large, complex, and significant as CETI. The faculty is quite alarmed by the minimum amount of consultation, the project's potential ramifications in the short- and long-term, and the short deadlines.

On the basis of what we know at this time, I encourage you to delay implementation of any part of CETI for at least six months to allow adequate time for this consultative process.

CFA is also concerned that CETI seems to be based on the assumption that the state legislature is unwilling or unable to provide sufficient funding for the University's technological infrastructure. Based on my discussions with leaders of the state legislature, I recommend that the segments of public higher education jointly ask the legislature for the necessary funds to build the basic infrastructure, at least. CFA stands willing to support this effort in any way.

I look forward to meeting with you soon to discuss this important matter.

Sincerely,

Terry Jones
President

cc: Board,
Presidents
Martha Fallgatter
Charles Reed
Jim Highsmith