This was an unusually productive bargaining session, in that CUE and UC finally signed our first tentative agreements in 6 months of bargaining. Three major issues were discussed at this session and agreement was reached on two. Here is a brief summary of what happened -- details and information about future bargaining follow.
SUMMARY (details below)
WAGES: Progress was made in getting our 2% increase due since last October. However, we were unable to reach agreement. After this session concluded, CUE provided UC with a written copy of a compromise proposal that could be the basis for an interim wage settlement. The interim wage agreement will be on the top of the agenda when we meet with UC again on February 10, 1999.
COMPASSIONATE LEAVE: Thanks to strong support from CUE members and others, we reached agreement on this issue. Where programs are in place, clericals will be able to participate immediately as both donors and recipients. Programs will be in place by February 1, 2000 for clericals at all UC locations, expanding the programs to cover
thousands who were previously ineligible.
AGREEMENT (also known as "Union Recognition"): CUE and UC reached tentative agreement on this contract article which establishes the procedures for moving job titles and employees into and out of the clerical bargaining unit.
DETAILS ON BARGAINING
Wages -- UC continues to insist that they will release the 2% wage increase owed to us since last October only if CUE agrees to give them nearly complete authority to impose changes in working conditions. In November CUE offered to agree to bargain at the individual campuses over changes in things like dress codes and attendance standards. At that time UC rejected our offer and indicated that they "needed" to have complete authority -- in other words for CUE to give up its right to bargain on many important issues. At this session UC indicated for the first time that they might agree to local bargaining on some proposed changes. After the session, CUE provided UC with a written
proposal on local bargaining, and we are awaiting their response. CUE bargainers will make every effort to come to a fair agreement on an interim wage proposal when we meet with them in 2 1/2 weeks. However, that will depend on whether UC continues to be willing to really bargain, as it did for the first time in this session, or whether UC
returns to its former "take it or leave it" posture.
Union Recognition/Agreement -- This article represents a first step toward CUE's goal of creating a respectful, more cooperative labor management relationship. UC agreed to language that requires full discussion of bargaining unit changes before they are made. For example, if UC decides to abolish a class or title, it will not do so until it has negotiated agreement with CUE over the effects of that decision.
Correction: We apologize for a misstatement in our last report concerning the location of upcoming bargaining sessions. In fact, UC is willing to meet at locations other than UCOP, and our next session, February 10 & 11, 1999, will be held at UCSB. Clericals are invited to sit in on any part of bargaining (a great way to use vacation time!) and are warmly invited to attend. Contact us at
clericals@igc.org for specifics. In March we'll meet in San Diego and in April at UCSF and at LBNL.
CUE's Bargaining Team:
- Kris Amaral (San Francisco)
- Christine Benoit (Riverside)
- Debbie Ceder (Santa Barbara)
- 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)
