Employee Furloughs

Approximately 85 percent of CSU’s budget costs are employee salary and benefits. The CSU has proposed two day per month furloughs for all CSU employees (except public safety personnel) as a way to protect the maximum number of jobs while generating essential salary savings. If all 47,000 CSU employees furloughed for two days per month, it would generate $275 million in cost reductions.

All management and non-represented employees, including the chancellor, presidents and executives, will begin furloughing August 1, 2009, following board action to amend Title 5. Members of the California State University Employees Union (CSUEU) are in the process of ratifying a furlough agreement. The California Faculty Association is voting on whether to negotiate a furlough option. Several smaller labor union groups have either chosen to negotiate furloughs or have chosen layoffs per their contract.

A furlough is a mandated period of time off without pay. Furloughs differ from salary reductions and pay cuts in that they are temporary and preserve employment status, health benefit eligibility and pay rate for retirement benefits. Employees are required not to work on furlough days.

Additional Links and Information

CSU Furloughs Fact Sheet

Members of State Employees Trade Council Ratify Tentative Agreement for 2009-2010

Members of California Faculty Association Vote to Accept Furloughs

CSU Employees Union Tentatively Agrees to Furlough Two Days Per Month

CSU Urges Faculty Union to Bring Furlough Option to Members for Vote

Title 5 (California code for regulations for management)