Bargaining Update Archive

February 2008 —

AFSCME rejects UC’s offer of wage increases in exchange for contract extension

After our final day of mediation with AFSCME for a new contract for patient care technical employees, the union rejected a UC proposal that would have provided approximately $16 million to UC patient care employees in annualized wages and related costs and would have raised the average system wide pay rate for these employees to $20.75 an hour. 

To date, AFSCME has rejected UC contract extension proposals for patient care technical and service employees amounting to over $18 million in annualized wages and related salary costs.

The University’s proposal was intended as a short-term solution to provide well-deserved wage increases to patient care technical employees while allowing the parties to continue to work toward their shared goal of a new contract.  The proposal, which would have extended the contract through September 30, 2008, left health and welfare benefits, retirement benefits  and current parking rates untouched, while offering the following wage increases:

·         Range adjustments: Increases to the minimum and maximum range for selected job titles.

·         Individual increases: Increases of 3.5-15% within range for all individual job titles.

·         Additional individual equity increases: Increases to individual salaries to address equity issues.

·         Shift differential pay: Location-specific increases to hourly rates for evening and night shifts.

·         Signing bonus: $500 for patient care technical employees with appointments of 50% or greater; $250 for those with appointments less than 50%.

At a mediation session on Tuesday, February 26, the third-party mediator indicated that he would certify the negotiations to fact-finding on February 27.  At the close of mediation, UC presented the union with its proposal for a contract extension. 

In the fact-finding process, UC and AFSCME will present their respective positions on the unresolved issues to a three-member fact-finding panel. The panel will then issue recommendations for resolving the differences between the parties. At the conclusion of fact-finding, if UC and AFSCME cannot reach agreement using the fact-finder's recommendations the recommendations become available to the public.

For more information, please click here to view the UC's official news release.