Bargaining Update #18: March 26-28, 2002
CUE and UC met in Oakland 3/26-28.
BENEFITS
During this bargaining session we met with Michele French, Executive
Director Health & Welfare Benefit Plans. CUE expressed its concern about
benefit language, which UC had proposed. This language seems to treat
CUE-represented employees differently from other UC staff since it refers
to "non-confidential, non-supervisory, non-managerial, non-academic
staff." Ms. French adamantly maintained that UC derived no benefit from
splitting employees up into small groups, stating emphatically that UC
receives the best possible deal on benefit plans when it negotiates for
the largest possible group of employees eligible for enrollment. Although
CUE is not bargaining benefits at this time, we will meet with Ms. French
again in 2 or 3 months to discuss the Benefits article and the 2003
contracts that UC is setting up with health care providers.
WAGES
Although UC's wage proposal for 2001 remains the same (1% effective
10/1/01 and no merits) UC bargainers indicated that they were interested
in a 2-year agreement and will make a proposal on wages for the second
year soon. No concrete proposals were made.
HARASSMENT OF CUE ACTIVISTS
CUE again raised the issue of continuing harassment of members of the
bargaining team and local CUE activists. UC was unwilling to take any
action, insisting that we rely on grievances and unfair labor practice
charges to resolve these incidents of harassment.
HEALTH & SAFETY
UC moved on Health & Safety in this session. Where previously our
contract stated "The University shall make reasonable attempts to furnish
and maintain in safe working condition the workplace and equipment
required to carry out assigned duties," now UC has proposed, "The
University shall maintain a safe and healthful workplace by furnishing
equipment and adopting methods and operations which are reasonably
necessary to enable employees to carry out assigned duties in a safe and
healthful manner." Unfortunately details included in UC's proposal still
contain serious loopholes. Arbitration of disputes under their proposal
are limited to those regarding assignment of abnormally hazardous or
dangerous tasks. Also, their compliance with provisions of the H&S
article is subject to the availability of specifically budgeted funds.
CUE's response will attempt to expand arbitration and require compliance
regardless of funding.
We meet with UC again on April 25-26 in Riverside.
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
- Lyn Kelly, Los Angeles
- Connie McGrath, Riverside
- Zoe Sodja, Santa Cruz
