News

UGWGA-UGA's Open Letter to President Morehead Urging Stronger Protections for Students and Workers

The UGA Chapter of UCWGA has written an open letter to President Morehead urging stronger protections including requiring face masks while indoors and allowing faculty, staff, and graduate st

UGA Faculty Member to University Officials: COVID-19 Is a Black Lives Matter Issue

I understand that UGA and the University System of Georgia, along with the rest of the world, are facing difficult decisions balancing public health with the need to carry on working.

Protect our international students!

We, faculty at institutions across the USG, condemn the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) decision, announced Monday July 6th, that stipulates that International Students with F-1 and M-1 visas, “attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States.” We are asking that the USG commits to protecting our international students from ICE proceedings and deportations if the USG were to shift to online-only instruction because of COVID-19 risks.

No Layoffs at KSU Petition Update and Media Round Up! (275 signatures and counting…)

As of today, the No Layoffs at KSU petition has 275 signatures from KSU workers, students, alumni, and concerned community members who are asking President Whitten to promise that no layoffs will occur at KSU as a result of the FY21 budget cuts. Since the petition was launched on June 16, we have delivered it once in person and twice electronically to keepPresident Whitten apprised of the strong and growing support our campaign is receiving.

Protect our international students!

We, faculty at institutions across the USG, condemn the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) decision, announced Monday July 6th, that stipulates that International Students with F-1 and M-1 visas, “attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States.” We are asking that the USG commits to protecting our international students from ICE proceedings and deportations if the USG were to shift to online-only instruction because of COVID-19 risks.

UCWGA-UGA Press Release on UGA Hosting the National Guard on Campus

United Campus Workers of Georgia at UGA denounces UGA hosting the National Guard on campus

“While the nation continues to call for defunding the police and the militarized state, UGA seems to remain oblivious and out of touch. On Saturday, June 6th, UGA passively allowed a convoy of armored vehicles to occupy the parking lot of the Performing Arts Center, and closed off parts of North Campus to host them. The National Guard deploying to Athens was prompted by the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement’s protest for justice for Black lives. 

KSU Chapter Petition: President Whitten, Promise NO Layoffs!

UCWGA KSU Chapter is calling on all KSU workers, students, and concerned community members to sign our petition calling on President Whitten to promise no layoffs. Read more below and click the link to add your name.

Dear President Whitten,

Will you do the right thing? Will you promise no layoffs?

Great news! There is no need for layoffs! The AJC reported on June 3rd, that Governor Kemp will be cutting USG’s budget by 11% instead of the 14% originally planned. While we know that 0% budget cuts to higher education is possible by removing unfair corporate tax breaks, we are glad to see that the Governor responded to the public’s pressure to support public services. KSU along with other USG institutions had already proposed budget cuts based on 14%. Included in those cuts were layoffs that would have saved KSU up to $3.1 million dollars. Luckily, we will need to cut $4.8 million less from KSU’s budget because of the decrease to 11%. This means that without a doubt, none of these proposed layoffs are necessary! 

United Campus Workers of Georgia condemns Proposed Cuts, Proposes Alternatives

United Campus Workers of Georgia demand no layoffs. The University System of Georgia can afford it!

Our Chop From the Top calculators are one tool the union has released as part of our campaign to demand more accountability, democracy, and fairness. Public education should be public!

Even without cuts, the current levels of inequality within the University System of Georgia’s workforce are unacceptable. Sixteen percent of full-time University System of Georgia employees do not make a living wage. So a restructuring of compensation within the USG is imperative regardless of the fate of the Governor’s requested cuts. In order to address both our current situation and the systemic issues within the USG, United Campus Workers of Georgia wants to call attention to three important points: the system has plenty of money, addressing income disparities would protect jobs and therefore serve students, and the current and proposed compensation structures perpetuate racial injustice.  

1) The university system has the money to cover the ~$475 million shortfall: The USG is financially healthy with enough in liquid assets and borrowing capacity to make certain that those of us who are the foundation of education in our state can fulfill our educational mission. 

  • In 2019 USG had a combined total of $2.5 billion in current assets (meaning assets the system is able to turn into cash within a year) compared to $930 million in current liabilities, indicating a strong financial position. This included $1.4 billion in cash and cash equivalents.
  • In 2019 there was $3.1 billion in USG university foundation endowments, including $288 million in unrestricted funds. 
  • In 2019, the USG’s change in net position -- the surplus after all expenses were factored in -- was $426 million. 
  • Credit rating firm Moody’s gives the USG its highest rating of A1 meaning it is low risk and strong investment grade debt. This indicates that USG can access credit markets to borrow at low interest rates.

2) Greater income equality can save our schools: The current furlough plans published by the USG are not progressive enough to maintain the health of our campus workforce.  Many other academic institutions have led by example; Stanford University and the University of Southern California made a 20% pay cut for the President.

  • United Campus Workers of Georgia originally called for no furloughs from those making under $65,000 and a salary cap at $250,000.  This plan would have an extra $4.3 billion in budget savings compared to the USG furlough plan.  This money could be redirected to protecting lower paid workers.
  • UCW’s progressive tiered furlough plan with higher income caps and steeper increases in reductions would save the state even more than the USG furlough plan and provide a 37% surplus.  

 

3) The University System of Georgia current and proposed compensation structures hurt Black communities. 

  • The University System of Georgia refuses to pay a living wage to more than 6,000 full time employees, 47% of whom are Black.  Black employees are almost three times more likely than non-Black employees to make poverty wages.
  • According to the Economic Policy Institute, these communities are already experiencing disproportionate levels of COVID-related unemployment and health impacts.  This makes it even more important that the University System of Georgia make deep structural changes to their compensation systems.  

Interactive "Chop from the Top" Calculators

Salary Cap Calculator

Select your institution, and enter your own numbers to see how much salary caps could save.

High Salary Furlough Calculator

Select your institution, and enter your own numbers to see how much could be redistributed elsewhere in USG by cutting back on the highest salaries.

Our Analysis

1. Savings from 14% to 11% would cover positions slated for elimination:
(all figures in this section are based on USG’s excel sheet released by the AJC) 

  • The original 14% reduction required $361,171,873 in cuts across USG (including non-university entities).  An 11% reduction requires only $283,646,977 in cuts across USG (including non-university entities).  This yields a difference of $77,524,895.  USG cuts included $53,952,428 from 735 layoffs across the system (elimination of currently filled positions)
  • The reduction in cuts means that layoffs are now unnecessary and USG will still have $23,572,467 more than they thought they would.

 

2. Progressive Furloughs and Salary Caps
(*Using 2019 IPEDS data; only including full-time employees with year-long contracts, could be 10 or 12-month according to sheet) 

  • USG current furlough schedule results in: $101,946,293 (although USG spreadsheet released by AJC shows: $80,076,555) 
  • UCWGA’s original suggestion was to have no furloughs under $65,00 and a $250,000 salary cap.  With our plan, we have an extra $4,344,736 in budget savings by cutting those with the highest salaries and protecting lower paid workers.

3. Scenario in which salaries were evenly distributed across the USG system:

What if we took the current salary total across USG and everyone who worked full time made the same salary:

31,149 Full-time employees would all make $85,942.  20,546 workers would get a pay raise (18% of these employees identified as Black, 56% identified Female).  10,603 employees would get a paid cut (10% of these employees identified as Black, 36% identified Female).  So, nearly ⅔ of employees would have a salary increase. 

 

KSU Chapter Statement on Anti-Racist Actions

KSU’s chapter of the United Campus Workers of Georgia joins with millions around the globe in denouncing the recent police murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd as well as the white vigilante murder of Ahmaud Arbery in our own state.

UCWGA statement on protests against police violence and systemic racism

Like millions around the nation and around the globe, our union was sickened by the footage of the murder of George Floyd by officer Derek Chauvin. And like those same millions, we know that this is not an isolated incident; it has become routine. Rekia Boyd, Laquan McDonald, Sandra Bland, Trayvon Martin, Kayla Moore, Eric Garner, Ayianna Jones, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, and the names continue.