UPDATE NUMBER ONE
Last year faculty, student, labor and community leaders waged a successful campaign to save labor research and education at the University of California after the governor proposed its complete elimination in the 2004-2005 budget. As part of the budget negotiations, Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez finalized an agreement that was approved by both the governor and the UC to continue funding research and education on labor and employment. Funding for this work was placed in the University's permanent budget. Administration of the statewide Labor and Employment Research Fund was moved to the Office of the President, under the direction of a Steering Committee of distinguished faculty drawn from every UC campus.
Governor Schwarzenegger has again proposed to eliminate labor and employment research programs in his 2005-2006 budget released on January 10, 2005. This is the only research program of hundreds within the University of California that the Governor has specifically targeted for elimination. This action was taken without any review of the importance or quality of the research and education provided with this funding.
By cutting the entire labor and employment research program without any academic review, the Governor’s attack violates fundamental principles of academic freedom and university governance. This could set a dangerous precedent for the governor to unilaterally remove any other research and educational programs that he does not like. If this governor can reach inside the University's permanent budget and eliminate a single research program, will a future governor do the same for research on AIDS prevention, stem cell research, or ethnic studies that he or a constituency find objectionable?
The University of California has issued a statement saying that it will “work with the governor and Legislature” to “gain restoration of [labor and employment research] funding.” This reflects an important commitment by the UC administration, and we have every reason to believe that it will be honored. In the coming weeks, faculty and staff involved in this work will be meeting with the UC administration to determine how best to proceed.
While the budget negotiations will continue, regardless of the governor’s decision the University has an obligation to maintain funding for research and education on labor and employment issues. The $3.8 million allocated for labor and employment research and education on the 10 UC campuses represents less than 0.14% of the General Fund allocated to the University, while the working people of the state pay the majority of the taxes that support the University. This decision threatens to deny working people access to research and educational resources within California’s premier public university.
In the coming weeks, we will be keeping you informed of our progress. We are grateful for your past support, and will no doubt be calling on you again.
Gary Blasi Acting Director UCLA Institute of Industrial Relations
Michael Reich Director UC Berkeley Institute of Industrial Relations
Kent Wong Director UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education
Katie Quan Director UCB Center for Labor Research and Education