Professional development funding is provided by the University for lecturers because your union bargained with the administration to secure that funding. But although this funding was obtained through the bargaining process by the hard work of the union's bargaining team, it is not union money. PDF grants are funded by the University and are subject to the University's rules and procedures.

The lecturers' MOU requires that each campus allocate $135 for each FTE (full-time equivalent) lecturer position on that campus. (For example, two half-time lecturer positions would equal one FTE for the purposes of this allocation.) The union hopes to increase that amount in future bargaining sessions. Last year, the Berkeley campus received one-time additional funding for professional development grants as a result of a settlement of a grievance over summer sessions pay. Any funds not awarded must be rolled over and can be used for grants in subsequent years.