CUE wins --- UC withdraws "work rules" from current bargaining
discussion --- agrees to release 2% increase to UC Clericals!
After months of negotiations, with CUE holding fast against UC's
repugnant proposal on work rules, the University made a remarkable
about-face, agreeing to give 18,000 UC clerical employees a 2% cost of
living increase completely untied. CUE bargainers want to thank the
hundreds of UC employees who let UC know that they did not want the 2%
if it meant giving in on "work rules," including dress codes and
attendance standards. It was your vocal support of the bargaining team
that brought this agreement home.
The increase was allocated by the state legislature in October, 1998.
UC has been holding the raise hostage, insisting that CUE (the union
representing clericals systemwide) give up its right to bargain on a
wide range of changes in working conditions. Yesterday, May 27, while
in bargaining at UC Santa Cruz, UC withdrew the proposal on work rules
and agreed to give CUE represented employees their 2% raise with full
retroactivity to October 1, 1998.
CUE agreed to give UC the remainder of our proposed contract language
by June 23, 1999. UC will implement the pay increase immediately after
that date. UC clericals should see the 2% reflected in their checks by
August 1, 1999. The retroactive check (which will pay clericals the
additional 2% from 10/1/98 until the payment increase appears in your
check) will take a little longer. UC had proposed that clericals
receive a lump sum which would be based on the average pay for their
classification on their campus. CUE insisted that the retroactive pay
should be just that - full retroactivity, paying each employee what
they had actually lost. UC agreed, but claims that it will take some
time to make those calculations and issue those checks. At the latest,
the checks will be distributed in 150 days from the date of the
agreement's implementation in June. In addition, those employees who
have been waiting for merits will now receive them, and July merits
will be paid as scheduled.
Once again thanks to the many, many UC clericals who have voiced their
support. We are proud of what we have all been able to accomplish
together.
CUE's Bargaining Team:
- Kris Amaral (San Francisco)
- Christine Benoit (Riverside)
- Debbie Ceder (Santa Barbara)
- Jennifer Goodheart (Santa Cruz)
- Mary Harrington (Santa Cruz)
- Lyn Kelly (Los Angeles)
- Robin Luczak (San Diego)
- Linda Moser (Davis)
- Joanne Murray (Santa Barbara)
- Cynthia Norman (Irvine)
- John Randolph (Lawrence Berkeley National Lab)
- Margy Wilkinson (Berkeley)
- Mark Blum (Chief Negotiator)
