This is a great email Professor Rucker. 
I am quite impressed that Dean Bullock forwarded it, and to all CASA employees.
I have heard that there will be a ‘campuswide protest’ and possible “walkout” on
Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

 I have not heard of any “walkout.”  Where did this information come from?
I would like to find more information.

 I received one notice that said there would be a CSUEU
General Membership Meeting at that time.  Then I got another notice that said there
 would be a “Rally and March Against Layoffs at SJSU” at that same time.  
I have no other details.

I’m really curious about a possible “walkout” and why I’m not aware of
it as a staff member

After speaking with Michael about his thoughts, he said it was ok to share with                        you his thoughts...and I offer mine one last time afterward. Bob Rucker   ------------------------------------------- From Michael Cheers: I carefully read and re-read your letter. I support the cause, but the tone of the letter, in my opinion, is "preaching" rather than a concise and forceful "call to action". What exactly do you hope to achieve? Rally the faculty campus-wide? Get media exposure? Ok, fine, then what? I understand others have made edits, etc. Can the letter be shortened, yet still maintain its power? D. Michael Cheers -------------------------------------- Thanks Michael. I absolutely appreciate this sort of honest and candid input and have been wondering where has it been this week? "Preachy" seems like a fair evaluation, and certainly that was not my purpose. Someone stepping up to offer a re-write would be most welcome! Waiting back to see how it all unfolds is more worthy of our college students thinking and approach. I would be happy to read, review and support another letter writing approach. I'd  be thrilled if someone else came up with other proactive & creative JMC school initiatives on this issue. Anything to kick start more enthusiasm, first among us and then the campus community.   Yes...we know....People are so busy right now.  I hear that alot...So are you.... So am I.  So let's be clear. I am not mad. I am tired,...Tired of being expected to be the only consistently outspoken voice, and do the heavy lifting for JMC on the importance of diversity appreciation and inclusion.    Speaking eloquently about what we stand for when everyone is gathered as a group is all fine and good. But my mother taught me..." never mind what people say, watch what they do." So far, with the exception of a few folks whose comments have been posted on my website (here), most in the JMC School have seemed content just to leave it up to Bob to do what our CASA Dean encouraged all of us to do last Monday...raise campus awareness and call people to action.   Well... forgive the sports metaphor...but WE all know we're looking at a long season ahead with this issue and our protest . We win by speaking up to make a difference, and doing so over the long haul. Bob has picked up this ball again, bounced it, run with it, taken a few shots and scored a few points. Now I am passing the ball on to everyone else. OK Team JMC... are you in this thing, or not? Don't worry about having weak knees. I find it comes with age. GO TEAM! Bob

The care and concern of the faculty and students over the staff layoffs is greatly appreciated.   

What currently stands out to me in some of the dialogue is the term “affected staff members,”
and the context of the sentences that the term is included.   ALL staff members are affected by
 this action (as well as the other stakeholders; faculty, students, administration, the public). 

The most pressing concern in my opinion are our colleagues and friends who have lost their
jobs and income.  Staff can often barely pay their bills with their paycheck. 
The next pressing issues are the ones “left behind.”  Those “left behind” are nonetheless grateful
for having income but some need to move to new and unknown units and environments,
and others staying in their current positions may be doing triple workload.

With all of the dialogue, my clear view of the issues mentioned gets cluttered. 
What are the core issues for the faculty and students? 

Is it that diversity was not a part of the union contract and included in the layoff process? 
Is it that “unique job performance” was not a part of the layoff process? 
Is it that seniority is a unethical way of determine the final layoffs? 
 Is it that we lost job positions?  Is it that staff got laid off in general, and now the resources
on campus will be limited?  

My core issue is that we need to get those job positions back that have been eliminated. 
We need to keep those personnel hired so that they can pay their bills, and not lose all the
efforts and energy that have given SJSU.

The issues for me personally are that some people lost their lively hoods and that others will have unbearable workloads.  My only ‘conflict’ with our union is that pay raises are not more of a priority.
I’ve been told that I lose money by working here.  Cost of living goes up, but my salary does not. 

I personally do not believe the core issue of this action is of diversity, and that is not because
I am a ignorant woman of European descent.  I believe this as a member of the SJSU staff for 10 plus
years.  I am actually low on the seniority level, even at 10 years.  Our staff is rich and deep in
diversity of individuals, whether it be protected classes, cultures, life experiences or skills. 
This diversity has not happened only in the past couple years.  This diversity reaches, as
mentioned, to the core of the living values of San Jose State University.  I wish I had some
statistics to quote. 

Sincerely. The care and concern of the faculty and students is greatly appreciated.   
I just wish this rallying to staff defense would of happened when the layoffs were a part of the budget planning, not after the action.

I do want to support the efforts as I can.  I don’t want to argue or debate. 
The issue of diversity is actually close to my heart for personal reasons in my family, my
individual life experiences, as well as the core of my graduate degree education.   

I have been a loyal employee at SJSU because I had job security, flexibility, good benefits,
and I believe I have helped students graduate.  These reasons are quickly dissipating.

Thank you for hearing my side of the story.

Amy Freitag