After a ratification vote by CUE members, CUE and UC bargaining representatives signed the documents that will finally allow clericals to receive merits and cost of living adjustments (COLAs) that the University has held back since October 1998. Sharon Hayden, UC Chief Negotiator,indicated that by no later than Monday, June 28, systemwide administration will provide UC Labor Relations and Payroll Managers on every campus with
authorization and all information needed to process the increases. It is now up to the campus Payroll Offices to process the COLAs and merits. Campuses have full authority to implement increases now, although they have an outside limit of 150 days, if they choose to delay employee increases that long. Regardless of when campuses implement the full COLA and merit increases, CUE has secured agreement that pay increases will be fully
retroactive to October 1, 1998. Retroactive checks will be available no later than 150 days after 6/25/99.
In response to proposals from CUE representatives, UC confirmed that career and casual clerical employees on approved leaves of absence or furlough between October 1998 and the date of the retroactive payment will receive all pay increases provided by the interim wage agreement. CUE and UC bargaining representatives signed an agreement to guarantee coverage under the agreement for those employees.
Nevertheless, on the second day of the 3-day bargaining session, UC did seek CUE agreement in excluding approximately 37 additional employees of the UC San Diego medical center Nutrition Department from coverage under the agreement. CUE representatives refused to consent to this eleventh-hour surprise. CUE is committed to fighting vigorously for full rights, benefits, and protections for all employees we represent.
CUE is prepared to move forward quickly with bargaining. All CUE's proposals are on the table, and CUE challenges UC to move forward in good faith to continue contract negotiations in a speedy and responsible manner -- as proof of what President Atkinson has called a new era of improved union-management relations.
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)
