THE UCSB FACULTY ASSOCIATION: WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE DO

Who Are We? We are a voluntary, dues-supported organization comprised of Academic Senate members dedicated to the improvement of the economic status and general welfare of the UCSB faculty. We are the only organization solely dedicated to protecting and improving the faculty's basic employment rights. Over the past three decades the Faculty Association has worked hard to increase faculty salaries, to add significant health care benefits such as dental care coverage, and to protect and increase retirement benefits. The FA's success in improving the economic status and the general welfare of the faculty is a matter of record. You may well have read a copy of our regular Faculty Association Newsletter, where issues of interest to faculty are discussed and FA involvement in achieving particular goals are highlighted.

What Exactly Are We? The UCSB Faculty Association (SBFA) is a faculty advocacy group, not a union. It is not currently affiliated with other organizations. It does, however, cooperate with other UC Faculty Associations on issues of common interest. The UCSB FA does not concern itself with strictly academic issues that are the primary concern of the Academic Senate, but it works closely with the Senate on employment rights such as salaries, health and welfare, fringe, and retirement benefits, and other work conditions such as teaching load, and outside employment policies. As an independent member-supported organization, the FA provides effective representation in employment matters and general welfare works closely with and effectively supports the mission and goals of the Academic Senate. The Executive Board has often worked quietly behind the scenes on faculty issues, but through input and energy of its members the Faculty Association can be an even more effective organization advocating for faculty interests at UC.

How Did We Come to Be? In 1979, when the University was going through another cycle of lean years, a group of Academic Senate Faculty on several UC campuses concluded that the University alone could not stop the alarming decline in faculty compensation and the inevitable decline in quality that was likely to follow. They also expected that at some future point the California Legislature would pass a law allowing higher education faculty to unionize. Fearing that such legislation might lead deterioration of quality and loss of control over academic policies, UC faculty formed faculty associations on most UC campuses, and played an active role in drafting legislation aimed at making sure that the academic quality of UC would never be compromised. When the collective bargaining law for higher education professors was passed in 1979, it became clear that the Academic Senate's authority was restricted to academic matters and did not extend to economic or employment interests of the faculty. UC faculty were quick to realize that the Academic Senate's role was limited by California laws and University regulations. This necessitated the establishment of faculty associations, not acting as the Senate, but as independent organizations that are not subject to the laws and regulations that restricted Senate action.