The CSU Employee Union (CSUEU) is discussing efforts to bargain for roughly 30 percent of extra funding set aside for the CSU’s 2013-14 budget.

“I’m optimistic about it, but it could be slim to none,” said CSUEB custodian Veryl Cornelius about the possibility of receiving the funds. “Because out of six years, we haven’t seen a raise and most folks been here seven or eight years haven’t seen a raise.”

Contracts ended on June 30, which previously extended the freeze on wages equating to roughly seven years without pay raises, according to Gantt.

The statewide university union, SEIU Local 2579 — made up of 15,000 workers is hoping the funding will compensate for the last several years of “poor budgeting,” stated CSUEU President Patrick Gantt, who added the staff have not received raises since 2007.

“This is the first time we have had a decent budget in a while, so we are hopeful that these translate into raises,” the Union President said.

Gov. Brown and Legislators agreed upon the $125.1 million of extra funding going into the CSU system in mid June, which was signed in late June. This comes after the passing of Proposition 30, an initiative voted on in Nov. 2012 that increased taxes allowing for a larger budget.

“The CSU is now making the decision on how to spend it, and we expect that there will be more traditional funding in the fiscal year in 2014-15,” said Watson.  And so when we go into contract negotiations we’ll probably be looking to build salary increase based, not on just the $125 million this fiscal years, but really on new allocations.”

The bargaining process, necessary for any changes made to union contracts, will involve reopening negotiations for salary and benefits, which would incorporate the $38 million of $125.1 million allowing for a 1.2 percent wage increase across the board, according to the SEIU Local 2579 website.  Yet, “it’s unlikely that they would apply it across the board,” said John Watson, the SEIU Local 2579 communications officer.

“So when we signed a three year deal this year, everything stayed the same, except we left negotiations open for raises, so that’s what they are bargaining,” said CSUEB custodian Veryl Cornelius. Though with the 1.2 percent increase for Cornelius, calculates to $25 extra per month.

Negotiations for salaries and benefits will happen on July 25-26, and negotiations for the next year’s new two-year contract will start July 1, 2014, and will incorporate salaries.

The SEIU Local 2579 is made up of six bargaining units, including healthcare workers, service employees, administrative support, technicians and second English language workers.

As of now, the CSU plans to use $48.2 million from the $125.1 million for mandatory cost increases, such as health benefits, new spaces, energy, etc. In addition, $21.7 million for a 1.45 percent, or 6,000 student, enrollment growth; $7.2 million for student access and success initiatives and $10 million for increasing online course, according to the CSUEU website.