BUDGET SUPPORT FOR CALIFORNIA HIGHER EDUCATION

WHEREAS, the California Master Plan for Higher Education and California's institutions of public higher education at one time established a model for the nation; and

WHEREAS, funding for higher education in California has deteriorated steadily under the Reagan and Brown administrations; and

WHEREAS, California's university faculty have lost more than 25 percent in real income during the past decade; and

WHEREAS, Proposition 13 resulted in a freeze of state employee pay and threats of massive layoffs in Califor­nia's higher education systems; and

WHEREAS, California's Governor Brown has jumped on the Proposition 13 bandwagon by proposing layoffs and pay levels which could only further erode academic quality in California's public universities; and

WHEREAS, Governor Brown is threatening to veto budget provisions funding salary increases, positions and programs in California's public universities and colleges; and

WHEREAS, the AFT is dedicated to excellence throughout higher education; and

WHEREAS, this Convention is being held in San Francisco, California:

RESOLVED, that the AFT urge the California Legislature to provide full budget support to maintain excellence in its public institutions of higher education, including a fair salary increase for state university employees and be prepared to defend academic excellence by overriding any prospective gubernatorial vetoes of California's higher education budgets; and