Press Release (12/9/02)

Raises for clerical workers do not depend on State Budget

COALITION OF UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES
State Headquarters: 2855 Telegraph Av., Berkeley CA (510) 845-2221 Fax (510) 845-7444
http://www.cueunion.org

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Margy Wilkinson
Sharon Cornu (510) 594-0224, (510) 207-9556

More than 2/3 of University funding outside state budget

Raises for clerical workers do not depend on State Budget

Berkeley, Dec. 9 - As lawmakers prepare to meet in special session over the troubled state budget, clerical workers at the University of California remind their employer that more than two-thirds of the University's budget comes from other sources.

"These budget negotiations are important for the state's future, but they are not related to the University's ability to grant fair raises to clerical workers today," said Margy Wilkinson, chief negotiator. "UC has an estimated $4 billion in unrestricted funds and operating income is up this year. Management can afford to treat workers fairly."

Clerical workers have been angered by UC management's rosy financial forecasts to the public and meager wage offers to workers. UC's chief financial officer recently issued a report (posted at http://www.ucop.edu/ucophome/cao/reports/2002/svp.html) stating UC enjoys:

• an 11% increase in operating income,
• increases in grants and contract revenues,
• increases in medical center and laboratory income, and
• increases in state funding.

UC gave top executives raises up to 25% last year.

At the same time, UC is urging $30,000-a-year clerical workers to pay more for health care and parking, forfeit merit increases, ignore workplace injuries, and accept a 2.5% wage increase over two years. UC's own market studies show that its employees earn well below market rate.

On Nov. 27, the state Public Employee Relations Board ruled against the University's request for a declaration of impasse, citing UC's unfair labor practices and refusal to bargain. The Board urged the employer to return to the negotiating table and treat employees fairly.

The Coalition of University Employees represents 18,000 clerical workers at nine campuses and the Office of the President. Strikes effectively closed campuses at Berkeley, Davis, Riverside, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz earlier this year. Berkeley members have voted to permit another strike if the University continues to bargain in bad faith.

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For more information, contact:
COALITION OF UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES
2142 Oxford, Berkeley CA 94704 (510) 841-0700
www.cueunion.org