Bargaining Update #10: Oct. 9-11, 2001, Santa Barbara
During bargaining at UC Santa Barbara, October 9 - 11, 2001, UC and CUE
were able to agree on language on two more articles--Corrective
Action/Discipline & Dismissal and Resignation/Job Abandonment. UC agreed
to include new language in these articles to comply with current law. We
are close to agreement on some other articles including grievance
procedure and payroll deduction.
But, there are many issues on which the parties are far apart including
Wages, Access and Health & Safety (we didn't discuss wages this time, but
it will be on the agenda for next time). We had a great deal of
discussion at the table about ergonomic safety, which affects clerical
employees more than any other health and safety issue. UC's rate of
ergonomic injuries is way above acceptable OSHA levels. We also discussed
areas with abnormally hazardous working conditions and the idea that
clericals can be disciplined for refusing to do work they believe to be
dangerous. Once again, we were told by UC that the kinds of pro-active
preventive measures proposed by CUE are unnecessary. UC prefers to wait
for workers to be injured and file workers compensation claims rather than
prevent injury. This is true in spite of the fact that state law requires
UC to have an injury/illness prevention plan in place at each
campus/hospital/laboratory. Although UC listened to our concerns on these
issues they don't seem prepared to take any new action to prevent UC
clerical employees from getting injured on the job.
Our next scheduled bargaining is in San Diego on October 24-26, 2001. We
have tentatively scheduled dates for November 5-9, 2001.
Footnote: UC told us at the table that the costs of almost all medical
plans will be going up slightly. One plan, Pacific Care, will remain
free. All UC unions will receive information very soon on benefit plan
changes. As soon as we have additional information we will share it with
you.
CUE's Bargaining Team:
- Margy Wilkinson, Chief Negotiator
- Chris Benoit, Lead Negotiator
- Mark Covington, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Becky Croll, Davis
- Hilary FitzGerald-Nicholson, Berkeley / UCOP
- Deborah Freeman, San Francisco
- Jody Galluzzi, San Diego
- Elaine Hernandez, Irvine
- Jack Joshua, Santa Barbara
- Connie McGrath, Riverside
- Zoe Sodja, Santa Cruz
- Anita Windom-Jones, Los Angeles
