Bargaining Update #17: Feb. 27-March 1, 2002
CUE and UC met in Oakland from February 27 through March 1.
During this session we were able to reach tentative agreement on 14
articles. Unfortunately, we remain far apart on key issues such as Health
and Safety, Layoff, No Strikes, and Wages. UC's offer on wages remains
the same 1% and no merits that they have given CUE since June 2001.
UC continues to express interest in meeting with the independent economist
Peter Donohue, who has analyzed UC's financial data which shows that UC
has 2 billion dollars in unrestricted reserves.
After an initial meeting between Donohue and human resources staff at
UCOP, UC indicated that some of the information on which he had based his
research and that UC had provided to CUE was not completely accurate.
This is essential information in order for CUE to determine the actual
cost of our merit increase proposal and for estimating the cost of our
wage proposal. It is also critical to have accurate data so that we can
determine actual turnover rates among CUE represented employees.
UC is obligated by law to provide accurate information in a timely manner.
Their continued failure to do so may be a violation of California law.
Six weeks ago, UC promised to provide more accurate information. To date,
this has not happened.
Negotiations are scheduled to resume March 26-28. We hope to have UC's
corrected information by then so that bargaining can continue meaningfully
and Donohue's meeting will be productive.
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
