| Coalition of University Employees (CUE) | 2855 Telegraph Ave., Suite #302, Berkeley, CA 94705 Contact CUE (510) 845-2221 (phone), (510) 845-7444 (FAX) |
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September 26, 2001
Dear President Atkinson and Chancellor Yang,
Having watched the long and painful process that CUE has gone through on our behalf, I am writing to say three things:
1) It is insulting and outrageous to watch CUE have to struggle so mightily for what should have been a simple process. It has long been glaringly obvious that you have not even considered negotiating in good faith. This has been so blatant, it makes me ashamed and embarrassed for you.
I have guardedly watched the process of the Graduate Students forming their union and have heard many reasoned arguments against it. I have officially supported the administration's line about this although I was somewhat dismayed at the lack of forthrightness in being honest about the reasons. Is this the case with CUE? Do you think that we cannot possibly understand and sympathize with having to make hard decisions in tough financial times? If so, you are wrong. I personally would much rather know about higher priorities that are so pressing that they must come first. At least that wouldn't be slamming the door in our faces and refusing to justify or even discuss the reasons.
2) The latest wage offer of 0.9% is also insulting. Since the University does not deny that it has the funds to raise clerical salaries to a more equitable level, it is sending the message that all other (unnamed priorities) are obviously much more important and that you absolutely do not care about the hardships and struggles of most clerical employees. We are expendable.
Is this because our Human Resources web site has had 74,894 hits as of today? Do you think that there are so many people eager to work for UC that any and all of us are expendable? Did you ever stop to think about how many of those hits are from current employees who are looking for a better paying job so that they can survive in this high cost-of-living market? Many people in my office do not even have an apartment of their own. They rent rooms in private homes or share households. Several of them do not even own a car and must rely on public transportation, traveling long distances to a more affordable area and wasting an extra two hours of their days in commuting.
3) Many clericals are working a job that is nominally 75% time, but in fact, is really a full time job. A system as large as this institution should not have to subsidize itself on the lowest paid members of their staff. We are already about as lean as we can get and still function. I can't tell you how many nights that I've lain awake and worried about getting everything done that I am expected to do. And you're asking me to continue to do so while expecting me to not even care that you do not value me? If accepting this makes me a masochist, what does that make you?
I suggest that if you truly cannot come up with any more funding for your clericals, that you at least start treating us with respect and dignity. Do not continue to insult our intelligence by an imperious refusal to explain yourselves.
Anonymous - UCSB