Local Member Meeting 10/12/04 - Minutes
General Membership Meeting
CUE Union Local #2
October 12, 2004
The Barn, University Club Room
In attendance were:
Mary Juma, President and UCR Rep, Statewide Executive Board
Sandy Oberlies, Vice-President
Christina Cuellar, Treasurer
Ginger Schilling, Secretary
Terri Romano, UCR Rep, Statewide Executive Board
Chris Benoit, Staff Person
and CUE members for a total of about 28 people.
Connie McGrath, UCR Rep, Statewide Executive Board was not present.
The meeting started approximately 12:10pm.
Mary began the meeting by announcing the new SW officers.
Bargaining. Maria handed out an unofficial bargaining report. She will be bargaining the month in San Diego. Unrepresented employees are getting the 2 days as administrative leave but represented employees are not.
Status Quo. CUE is keeping an eye on UC to make sure that they don't violate it.
Maggie asked about the scotmail ULP. Sandy hasn't heard anything. Chris will ask Ari about it.
Gail introduced her coworker, Debbie, as a first-timer at the meeting.
Success story of the month. Chris noted that her contact information is on the website (www.cueunion.org). An employee got an unexpected letter of warning that should have only been a counseling memo. Supervisor changed it but the memo was even harsher. Grievance went to 2nd level before it could be resolved. End result is that it was all taken out of the employee's file. The employee received no discipline and got a good performance review.
Chris noted that everyone has a personal area, even if it is nothing more than a desk. You can put out personal objects including CUE items (such as a bumper sticker).
A member asked what Status Quo was.
A: The period after the contract expires. UC can't change working conditions, i.e. can't change employee schedules, hours, no increases in medical or parking. It has to be bargained. There are more advantages than not for the union. A disadvantage is that greivances can't go to arbitration.
Chris added that any employee who wanted a schedule change should contact CUE and CUE will sign off on it.
Discussion about 2 days. The 2 days was originally CUE's idea. UC wants to close down for the energy savings. Offered the 2 days in exchange for little/no increase in pay. CUE offered to extend the contract in exchange for the 2 days. UC didn't accept so the contract expired.
UC has admitted at the bargaining table that they have the money but choose not to use it for clericals.
The 2% for UC salaries in California's budget was not earmarked for clericals, so UC spent it on the salaries of the upper administration.
UC and CUE currently disagree on comp. time/overtime. UC says overtime only. CUE says UC can't make that change in Status Quo. Maria said that anyone who prefers to have the comp. time should keep track of the time and trade back the money for the time later when the issue is resolved.
Fact-finding for re-opener bargaining will take place in November.