CUE Bargaining Report on Reopener Bargaining

Bargaining Report -- from the 2003-04 team
Press Conference Set for February 17 in Oakland

While CUE/UC bargaining for 2004-05 moves ahead, the 2003-04 bargaining cycle for UC clericals continues simultaneously. In the 2003-04 bargaining cycle, UC and CUE came to no agreement on three areas, including wages. These areas, subject of "reopener" bargaining, were referred to an official "Impasse" process that follows guidelines set by the State of California.

Part of the Impasse process is a procedure called "fact-finding," in which a three-person panel reviews facts presented by both sides, with the third, or neutral member's findings being determinative. The third fact-finder, well-known arbitrator Gerald McKay, has released his very interesting findings to CUE and to UC. His conclusions may not be made public before February 17.

CUE will hold a press conference outside the Office of the President on February 17, the day the report will be released to the public. Please join us at 12:00 (noon) at 1111 Franklin Street, Oakland. Please see separate email later today with information about the important fact-finder report.

In the meantime, UC and CUE have seen his report, and the two parties met on Friday February 11 to discuss them. UC did not come to Friday's meeting prepared to make any movement or to seriously discuss any of the conclusions in the report. CUE's position is that we have essentially bargained with ourselves for over a year on the issues. We have made numerous concessions and feel that our last offer is the bottom line, based on clerical needs and UC's available resources.

Sharon Hayden, UC Chief Negotiator for reopeners, will provide Linda Moser, CUE's Chief Negotiator for reopener bargaining, with UC's last offer in writing. If there are any changes in the University's position, CUE will be more than willing to meet for discussions. As it stands today, we have no reason to believe the University will change its position or be willing to make any reasonable offer based on the findings of the Fact-finding process.

UC's final offer will end the formal process for 2003-04 bargaining. When the final offer is received, CUE's Executive board will review all available options, including striking, to obtain fair wages and working conditions for UC clericals.

For CUE:

Amatullah Alajie-Sabrie, Chief negotiator for successor bargaining
Nancy Kabzenell
Lyn Kelly
Laura McCann
Connie McGrath
Linda Moser, Chief negotiator for reopener bargaining
Margy Wilkinson, Chief Steward