March 2: Voting rights protected by contract

Dear UC Clerical Employee,

CUE would like to encourage you to vote in the Presidential Primary Election on Tuesday, March 2, 2004. Polls will open at 7:00 am and will close at 8:00 pm. Some of the ballot measures will directly affect our future as California residents and as UC employees. CUE is sending out information for you to consider as you make up your mind on how to vote.

CUE's elected statewide executive board endorses a YES vote on Proposition 56 (the Budget Accountability Act) and A NO vote on Proposition 57 (Schwarzenegger's Economic Recovery Bond Act). For detailed information about these propositions, please see http://www.budgetaccountabilitynow.org AND http://www.smartvoter.org/2004/03/02/ca/state/prop/56/ regarding 56, and http://www.smartvoter.org/2004/03/02/ca/state/prop/57/ regarding 57.

For your information, the CUE contract allows employees up to two hours of paid work time to vote if it is not possible to get to the polls any other time. The specific language is found in the LEAVES OF ABSENCE article:

"An employee shall be granted leave with pay, up to a maximum of two (2) hours, for voting in a statewide primary or general election if the employee is scheduled to work eight (8) hours or more on that day and does not have time to vote outside of working hours."

For information on some of CUE's legislative interests, go to: Legislative Committee