E-NEWS: CUE Launches Campaign for New Contract

CUE and UC have begun bargaining on a new contract. The new team met with UC's bargainers, starting the new bargaining cycle, on July 21-22. A report on the contents of this first session will be distributed shortly.

(At the same time, separate CUE/UC bargaining continues on left-over items from the last bargaining cycle (on wages, parking and benefits).)

In preparation for the next session -- August 10, 11, UCOP in Oakland -- CUE members and all clericals are invited to show their support by attending bargaining and/or wearing CUE t-shirts and buttons on those days.

"We are more determined than ever to wrest fair pay increases from the University," reports Amatullah Alaji-Sabrie, who heads CUE's new bargaining team. "And we know from past experience that we will need the visible support by CUE members and by all clericals to win."

CUE members from most of the UC campuses traveled to Los Angeles in July to give visible support to the team. Members packed the bargaining room and put UC on notice that CUE expects UC bargainers to take the process as seriously as does CUE. Referring to past complaints about the University's practice of dragging negotiations on and on, CUE President Claudia Horning says, "We expect UC's bargainers to come to each session prepared, to be able and willing to make movement, and to work with us to solve problems."

CUE's statewide campaign committee, made up of union members from locals on every campus, is pledged to building support for the bargainers. It is the union's experience that UC's methodology in setting wages is pretty simple. It has nothing to do with costly analyses and long-term planning. It's just "squeaky wheel" thinking. "They aren't going to give us anything until they think they have to, and that depends on how loudly, how broadly, we can make our voices," said Horning. "UC knows that we are the cornerstone of university excellence and that without us, the system crumbles, but they still think that they can pay us as though we were close to worthless."

Bargaining has been set for the following dates and locations, and CUE is urging clericals to wear CUE t-shirts and buttons on these days. Members who work on or near these bargaining locations are additionally urged to attend bargaining.

August 10-11, Tuesday & Wednesday, Office of the President, Oakland

August 24-25, Tuesday & Wednesday, UC Irvine

For more information on how to obtain CUE t-shirts, buttons, and bumper stickers, please call the CUE office for your campus. See your local contact information.

Finally, CUE reminds you that if you are still paying "agency fees" or "fair share fees," you are not doing all you can to help us get a pay raise. By paying as little as $.50 - $1.00/month more, you can become a voting member of CUE, and that is what impresses UC! Please check your pay stub to see your status.