The University of California labor union (AFSCME) is demanding the immediate resignation of David J. Ernst, the university executive accused of pocketing more than $150,000 in improper expense reimbursements during his tenure at California State University.
The union sent a letter to UC President Mark Yudoff on Saturday, stating that Ernst’s "jet-setting global junkets, lavish meals and opulent retreats at taxpayer expense is an insult to workers who have been asked to put less food on their tables and students who have been forced to forgo their dreams."
The petition came just a day after the state auditor published an audit encompassing expense reports from July 2005 through July 2008. The report alleges that Earnst had billed the university for luxurious hotel stays, meals costing $167 a person, travel around the world, Internet service at home, and more than $43,000 for travel expenses incurred between his office in Long Beach and his home in Northern California.
California State Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) also issued a statement calling for Ernst to repay all improper expenses and requesting that Yudof publicly account for all payments made to university officials.
"The public deserves to know the extent of this problem," Yee stated. "Considering the culture of secrecy and corruption within the UC and CSU administration, it is highly unlikely this is an isolated incident."
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