STATEMENT: UC Workers React to State Audit of UCOP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 25, 2017
CONTACT: Todd Stenhouse, (916) 397-1131, [email protected]
STATEMENT: UC’s Largest Employee Union Reacts to State Audit of UCOP
Oakland: In a blistering critique of financial and administrative practices at the University of California’s Office of the President (UCOP) released this morning, California State Auditor Elaine Howle has concluded that UCOP failed to disclose nearly $200 million in “amassed reserve funds,” “used misleading budgeting practices,” provided its highest-paid employees with overly generous salaries and benefits, “failed to justify” its spending on system-wide initiatives, and “intentionally interfered” with the State’s Audit process.
Read a Summary of the State Audit of UCOP Here
Read a Fact Sheet about the Audit Here
Read the Full Audit Here
The State Auditors’ review of UCOP was requested last year by the California Legislature. Its release comes as UC implements a new round of tuition hikes, announces more cost overruns and delays in its new payroll system, and faces growing scrutiny over its reliance on low wage contract workers. The State Auditor is also reviewing UC’s contracting practices, and is expected to release a full report in June.
In response to the State Auditor’s report on UCOP, AFSCME Local 3299 President Kathryn Lybarger has issued the following statement:
“Today we learned that after squandering millions of public dollars on bloated management and unaccountable ‘initiatives,’ UCOP has effectively been operating a slush fund that shields hundreds of millions of public dollars from public scrutiny. Worse, UCOP’s interference in the State Auditor’s investigation is like trying to keep two sets of books–and reflects a continuing pattern of deception towards the Legislature in order to justify tuition hikes, skyrocketing executive pay, and continued exploitation of low wage contractors. We are grateful to the State Auditor for exposing UCOP’s disgraceful conduct and financial mismanagement, and join her in demanding real reform and increased legislative oversight. Our students, patients and colleagues deserve better.”
