| Coalition of University Employees (CUE) | 2855 Telegraph Ave., Suite #302, Berkeley, CA 94705 Contact CUE (510) 845-2221 (phone), (510) 845-7444 (FAX) |
November 4, 2009
TEMPORARY LAYOFF NOTICES
Dear CUE-Represented Employee
I write to provide you with an update regarding the temporary layoffs and campus closures that have been announced throughout the University system. The CUE bargaining team has been working hard to bargain regarding the University's decision to implement the layoffs and closures, as well as the effects of these decisions. Unfortunately, the University has unlawfully refused to bargain in good faith with CUE before taking these actions.
If you receive a temporary layoff notice, please send a copy to your local CUE office. Also, if your layoff is for a consecutive period longer than a week, you may be entitled to unemployment benefits. You should apply for those benefits no later than the first day of your layoff, in order to receive the maximum benefit to which you are entitled. Application may be made on the website for Employment Development Department.
The University's implementation of the temporary layoffs and campus closures is illegal, because UC refused first to bargain with the Union regarding these matters, as required by state labor law. Therefore, the Union has filed a legal action with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), the state agency that enforces these laws, to challenge the unlawful actions of the University. Should we prevail in the case, PERB will order the University to provide backpay to affected employees.
We believe that our legal position in this case is strong. However, the legal proceeding in the case may take some months, or even years, to resolve. Therefore, it is likely that the legal process will still be proceeding at the time of the threatened layoffs. If so, this means that the layoffs will go forward. However, if we later prevail in our legal action, laid-off employees would be entitled to recover their lost wages.
You can learn more about your Union and the bargaining process by checking updates from your bargaining team at the CUE website (www.cueunion.org.) Finally, I urge you to support your Union by getting involved with the activities of your Local -- contact information for your Local is also available on the CUE website.
On behalf of the CUE Bargaining Team
Amatullah Alaji-Sabrie
CUE Chief Negotiator