By Monique Simpson
Daily Bruin Reporter
Chancellor Albert Carnesale discussed several issues at the
staff town hall meeting Thursday in Ackerman Grand Ballroom, but
some union members wished he had discussed the ongoing contract
bargaining between UCLA research and technical workers and the UC
Board of Regents in detail.
“It’s taken so long for our contract to get settled,
but he didn’t address it at all,” said Rita Kern, a
senior research assistant in the Neuropsychiatric Institute and the
president of University Professional and Technical Employees.
Kern said though the labor contact between UC and the workers
ended Oct. 1, a new contract has not been reached. It may not be
the chancellor’s role to bargain for staff, she said, but he
should be more involved in the process.
“I would have liked to hear him support staff and
employees getting their raises in a timely fashion,” she
said.
Sponsored by the Academic Business Officers Group and Staff
Assemble, this was the chancellor’s second town hall meeting
with staff members from all areas of campus.
“I was excited the staff participated by submitting
questions,” said Susan Sims, chair of ABOG.
The chancellor spent half the meeting answering questions posted
on the staff Web site. The questions ranged from how one can
improve community spirit among staff to child care, a concern of
many staff members.
Topics discussed included Tidal Wave II, which is expected to
add approximately 60,000 students to the UC system by 2010.
According to Carnesale, UCLA and UC Berkeley will each receive
an additional 4,000 students ““ a 12 percent increase ““
because of this influx.
“We can’t absorb all the growth at UC Merced,”
he said.
But the present faculty/student ratio will not change. As the
number of students increase, so will the number of faculty and
staff, the chancellor said.
Another issue addressed was the California energy crisis’
impact on UCLA. Carnesale told the audience the campus does not
have to worry about blackouts because there is enough electricity
to meet 85 percent of the peak demand on campus due to the
co-generation plant.
“Our problem is being able to pay for this,” he
said.
Carnesale added that the UC office is currently asking the
governor for state funding to help with the high cost of natural
gas.
Another topic discussed was the lack of child care services for
staff. One reason the chancellor gave for there not being adequate
accommodations for all staff members was the lack of money.
“Where would the funding come from? The state has not
given us funding for child care,” said Carnesale.
The chancellor hopes to make an announcement in the upcoming
months about private funding for child care.
Many in attendance left the event pleased with Carnesale’s
comments on building more underground parking, facilities,
including laboratories.
“It was the first time I heard the chancellor speak, and I
was very impressed, ” said Belinda Borden, a UCLA alumna and
manager of UCLA Travel Center and Bruin Walk Travel.
Randy McDaniel, manager of System of Integration for Facilities,
was also pleased with Carnesale’s speech.
“I came to the meeting to see where he’s taking us.
We assume since he’s driving, he knows where we are
going,” said McDaniel, adding he “likes the way
(Carnesale) drives.”