| Coalition of University Employees (CUE) | 2855 Telegraph Ave., Suite #302, Berkeley, CA 94705 Contact CUE (510) 845-2221 (phone), (510) 845-7444 (FAX) |
UC San Francisco
The University chief negotiator, Peter Chester, indicated in a letter dated October 19, 2009 that the University was unwilling to schedule additional days in November for bargaining sessions as previously proposed by the CUE team. In that letter Peter Chester requested that CUE stipulate in a declaration to PERB (Public Employment Relations Board) that CUE and UC are at impasse in the current successor negotiations.
The CUE and UC Bargaining Teams met in San Francisco on the UCSF Mission Bay campus on October 21 and 22. During the first meeting on October 21, the University chief negotiator reiterated the request for CUE to stipulate in a declaration to PERB that the two parties, CUE and UC, were at impasse. The CUE bargaining team refused to stipulate to impasse. CUE's chief negotiator, Amatullah Alaji-Sabrie, pointed out to Mr. Chester that the University had not responded to proposals that CUE has presented and additionally had just recently provided CUE with proposed medical premium information on October 5, 2009 and partial financial information on October 19, 2009 which was requested over one year ago. Additionally, the University has begun to provide critical requested information since CUE filed a complaint with PERB against the University in September 2009.
The morning session continued with both teams engaging in extensive discussion regarding CUE's proposal on vaccinations. The proposal was given during the Santa Cruz sessions in response to the policy announced at two of the UC medical centers requiring hospital personnel opting to not receive the H1N1 vaccination to wear red dots on their identification badges, face masks, and the threat of possible discipline for not complying with this policy. It should be noted that the vaccine has not yet been made available to medical center personnel. After this discussion, the teams went into caucus for the remainder of the day to work on proposals.
The CUE team discussed two contract articles in depth. The University team worked on its proposal which it characterized as its "last, best, and final proposal."
On October 22 CUE received the University's package proposal, their "last, best, and final offer." A considerable amount of time was spent clarifying and questioning the University team on the intent of the contract language of the articles contained in the package proposal. After receiving the University proposal the CUE team called for a caucus and crafted two information requests relevant to the University proposal and finalized additional proposals for two articles, Article 16 (Medical Separation) and Article 23 (Parking and Transportation) to give to the University.
The new information requests along with the two CUE contract articles were given to the University team when we reconvened near the end of the second day's session. The dates for additional sessions were again given to the University team. The University proposal from the perspective of CUE's chief negotiator can not be considered a best or final proposal and we anticipate PERB after examining the evidence will share that view. CUE's chief negotiator again reiterated CUE's opposition to the University declaration of impasse and the bad faith bargaining tactics utilized by the University which have stalled the negotiations thus far.
The University has acknowledged its obligation to bargain the effects of the scheduled temporary layoffs and the curtailment period. These negotiations may prove critical in overcoming the obstacles encountered in the negotiations of the salary reduction/furlough plan. The November dates are set aside for those negotiations and the CUE team awaits the University's confirmation of the next bargaining sessions.
On the final day of the bargaining session, October 22, some members of the CUE bargaining team attended a lunchtime meeting with members of the San Francisco jurisdiction to answer questions about the current negotiations and especially negotiations surrounding the salary reduction/furlough plan. The team members who attended welcomed the opportunity to explain the team's decision not to accept the salary reduction/furlough plan as offered by the University.
There were CUE employees and staff in attendance as observers on both days of the bargaining sessions. The next bargaining sessions are scheduled for northern California locations and a notice of the dates and locations will be sent to the jurisdiction. We encourage employees who are able to attend the sessions to join us as observers.
Proposed University medical health premiums for the available medical plans are posted on the CUE website at: 2010 Medical Benefit Summary
CUE Bargaining Team:
Jill Monthei-Santa Barbara