Union spells out grievances behind push for Fresno State president’s resignation

The California State University Employees Union, which sent a petition to its membership last week demanding the resignation of Fresno State president Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, released statements on Thursday more clearly stating its issues, such as the trend of hiring more temporary workers on campus and poor communication.

Fortunato Garcia, CSUEU Fresno State chapter president, said in an email to membership that the campus has not been hiring permanent staff — more than 11% of CSUEU-represented employees are on temporary status, including eight of the 24 that have been hired this year.

The union over the past seven years has also lost 70 staff positions; departments that had four to six employees are down to one or two, the university’s warehouse staff has been reduced from six to two. And while enrollment at the university has been fairly steady since 2017, staff size has been reduced, increasing workload for union employees.

“Under president Jiménez-Sandoval’s leadership, the administration’s lack of regard for staff is clear,” Garcia said. “One recent example: As the university first proposed cutting library hours, and then changed course, president Jiménez-Sandoval met with (Associated Students Inc.) but failed to do any outreach with frontline staff who would be directly affected.”

Jiménez-Sandoval was not available for comment, but a university spokesperson said, “The president has met, and is happy to continue to meet, with CSUEU representatives and any members of the campus community to address their concerns. We recognize the impact of the state’s budget on our campus, and we are fully committed to doing all we can to protect our staff and faculty.”

The Fresno State president, who was appointed in 2021, released a statement to campus last Friday, the day after the petition went public. “I have been in touch with many union members who did not receive this message and were unaware that it was coming,” Jiménez-Sandoval said. “(Associated Students Inc.) leadership has confirmed that they were not consulted, were unaware of the petition and do not endorse it. Needless to say, I am surprised at this message, especially when Fresno State has a balanced budget and all funding is explained to the Academic Senate, Staff Assembly, and ASI on an annual basis.”

Garcia, the CSUEU chapter president, also pointed to the Save Mart Center and a $10.3 million principal and interest payment that is due in 2024-25. He also expressed a concern over potential staff layoffs.

The university, which paid interest-only on the building for more than a decade, has not disclosed how it plans to make that payment. In 2023-24 and 2024-25, it will make payments totaling more than $16 million and will still owe more than $26 million on the multi-purpose arena at Shaw and Chestnut avenues.

The debt on the building, which cost $103 million, will not be retired until 2031.

“Fresno State faces serious challenges, and we need a leader who respects and listens to all stakeholders, including staff,” Garcia said in the email to union membership.

The CSUEU represents employees in four units on campus - healthcare, operations, administrative and technical support. It also next week will launch a membership drive for student assistants in the 23-campus California State University system, who voted by an overwhelming margin to form the largest union of undergraduate employees in the country.

The employees union released the petition along with the California Faculty Association on Thursday. Shortly after the CSUEU sent out the petition in an email to its members, the CFA retracted its support.

“CSU staff at Fresno State have significant issues with how the campus is being managed and how resources are used to promote students’ academic success,” Garcia said, in a statement released to the media. “Based on our members’ concerns, we initiated a petition directed at the campus president.

“Workers’ issues are real and they affect student success at Fresno State. Inadequate staff affects student learning. Mismanagement of university resources means less funding for vital programs.

“We call on president Jiménez-Sandoval to demonstrate that he recognizes the valuable services frontline staff provide our campus.”