CUE/UC mediation, October 24, 25, 2000
CUE and UC met for two days (10/24-25) with mediator Ken Silbert. We
had tough, candid exchanges through the mediator. There was little
movement and no agreement. However the parties agreed to continue the
mediation for two additional days -- Thursday and Friday, November
2-3.
On October 26, after the close of mediation, UC sent CUE a new wage
proposal which CUE has not had an opportunity to analyze. At the
same time UC posted this wage proposal to its web site. It appears
to be only slightly changed from a proposal UC made the end of the
day on October 25. This offer has some changes in dates pay
increases would be implemented but does not include improvements to
our base pay over previous offers.
UC's posting this wage proposal to its web page is an attempt by UC
to politicize the mediation process and we believe violates the
spirit of the mediation process. It is especially regrettable since
during the mediation, the UC management team brought a wage proposal
to the table that held some promise for settlement -- only to have it
withdrawn in a matter of minutes by senior management -- who were not
at the table. The explanation was that UC's chief negotiator, Sharon
Hayden, had exceeded her authority. The mediator expressed interest
in having people at the bargaining table who do have the authority to
bargain in order to be able to reach agreement. UC has not yet
indicated if they are willing to do this.
In spite of these events, CUE will push ahead to reach agreement with
UC when we meet again with the mediator on November 2 and 3.
Meanwhile we urge you to keep up the pressure on UC. It is your
action and your voices that will translate into to movement at the
table by the UC bargainers. Thank you for your many messages of
support. Together we will win a decent contract.
CUE's Bargaining Team:
- Christine Benoit (Riverside)
- Stephane Berlaud (San Francisco)
- Debbie Ceder (Santa Barbara)
- Mark Covington (Lawrence Berkeley National Lab)
- Jennifer Goodheart (Santa Cruz)
- LeAnn Herigstad (Davis)
- Alyce Herrera (Lawrence Berkeley National Lab)
- Lyn Kelly (Los Angeles)
- Robin Luczak (San Diego)
- Joanne Murray (Santa Barbara)
- Cynthia Norman (Irvine)
- Margy Wilkinson (Berkeley)
- Mark Blum (Chief Negotiator)
