New York Times Ad -- January 2002

UC President Atkinson is pleading poverty with $2 billion in the bank.

He's obviously not an Economics Professor.

Why won't UC offer fair pay to clerical workers when it can clearly afford it?

University of California continues to plead poverty as it raises fees, underfunds academic programs, decreases student aid, and underpays clerical workers. But if UC is so poor, then why did the UC Regents approve pay increases of up to 25% to its top administrators, some of whom already make more than $200,000 a year? Clearly, the University of California has a problem with its priorities, not its finances.

Based on University of California's own financial records, UC has more than $2 billion dollars in unrestricted funds at its fingertips. This is more than enough to pay decent wages to clerical staff, lower student fees, and increase support to academic programs. According to economist Dr. Peter Donohue, Ph.D., "The University talks publicly about belt tightening and shared sacrifices, but the fact is that UC could easily afford a 15% increase for all clerical workers-it would take only 3% of unrestricted funds that UC can use however it chooses."

The Coalition of University Employees (CUE) and 18,000 UC clerical workers are asking UC President Richard Atkinson to come clean and admit that staff wages can and should be higher, that students fees can and should be lower, and that UC's priorities can and should be restructured. President Atkinson, do what's right for all University of California students, teachers, and workers.

UC's Priorities Hurt Students, Teachers and Workers

With huge cost of living increases and UC employee benefit cuts, UC's current 1% pay increase amounts to a virtual pay cut.

UC now refuses to fund pay increases for clerical or longterm employees who have reached the top of their pay range, even though it agreed to do so last year.

UC just approved pay increases of up to 25% for 49 top administrators, some of whom already make more than the state Governor.

UC's Priorities Hurt Students, Teachers and Workers
With huge cost of living increases and UC employee benefit cuts, UC's current 1% pay increase amounts to a virtual pay cut. UC now refuses to fund pay increases for clerical or longterm employees who have reached the top of their pay range, even though it agreed to do so last year. UC just approved pay increases of up to 25% for 49 top administrators, some of whom already make more than the state Governor.

Coalition of University Employees
For more information, contact the Coalition of University Employees (CUE) at clericals@cueunion.org.