| Coalition of University Employees (CUE) | 2855 Telegraph Ave., Suite #302, Berkeley, CA 94705 Contact CUE (510) 845-2221 (phone), (510) 845-7444 (FAX) |
| What is Fair Share? |
Date: Mon, 22 May 2000 00:25:01 -0700
Subject: Fair share fees & bargaining status
Dear UC Clerical Employee,
On January 1, 2000, Fair Share legislation became California law. Under this law, unions at UC that have been elected by a majority vote to represent employees are permitted to collect "fair share" fees to cover the cost of the union's representational activities.
Unlike most other UC unions, CUE asked its members whether or not to implement fair share, and the members from every campus voted to do so. Members also voted to replace our previous flexible dues structure with a fixed rate, so that we could calculate a consistent fair share rate.
Our new membership dues are one-half of one percent (0.5%) of each member's gross monthly salary, a rate lower than dues for other UC unions. CUE is implementing fair share June 1, 2000. The first paychecks to show fair share deductions will be the paychecks issued on July 1, 2000 (or a little later for those paid twice a month.)
If you are not a member of CUE, the amount of your fair share fee will be only slightly smaller than what you would pay if you were paying member dues. An independent audit has determined that over 98% of our expenses are for activities that benefit all clericals and are therefore chargeable to fee payers. We have decided to round that down to 95%, so the fair share fee is being set at .475% of each non-member's gross monthly pay. Fair share fee payers do not have the right to vote, hold office, or be a candidate for office in the union; nor may they participate in or attend any functions of the union that are limited to union members. In addition, fair share fee payers have no right to vote on dues increases or on contracts submitted to the membership for ratification. These rights are privileges of union membership and are accorded only to full union members.
Collection of the fair share income will help us provide legal representation, conduct research, train more grievance handlers, and bear arbitration costs that will likely begin once we sign a contract. We will finally be able to have basic office space and staff to increase UC clerical workers' access to the union. As a new and independent union, we know that our resources have been minimal, and our achievements to date out of proportion to them. This is because of the hard work and dedication of our members, as well as the letters and other actions taken by clerical employees in support of our bargaining team.
Indeed, bargaining a first contract continues to be our most important and difficult challenge. An intransigent UC seems determined to fight against union proposals for improvements in wages, benefits and working conditions.
Two examples:
A MEANINGFUL WAGE ADJUSTMENT - UC wants us to accept a 2% cost of living increase, even though their own their own market studies show that systemwide, clerical salaries lag an average 21% lower than wages paid for equivalent positions in our surrounding communities. Our salaries lag 9% behind comparable state of California workers; our real buying power has decreased by over 9% in the last eight years. UC's bargainers admit that the money for significant raises is there - they just don't want to give it to clericals!
PROTECTIONS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION - UC wants discrimination charges to be dealt with in the courtroom rather than to resolve them at the campus level or through less expensive arbitration. We believe that UC should take at least minimal responsibility to discourage discrimination on the job, by allowing for grievances on discrimination to go through the same appeals channels as are available for other kinds of grievances.
Membership not only gives added strength to our bargaining committee, by telling UC that you support the union bargainers. It also gives you voting rights in CUE, so that you can help set CUE's priorities and strategies, as well as vote on our contract. Since fair share fees will be only slightly less than membership dues, we hope that you will take that extra little step and join.
If you have any questions, please contact your local CUE representative or visit the CUE web site at http://www.cueunion.org/. Join today, and take a big step toward a fair contract and a living wage for us all.
The CUE Executive Board