Bargaining Update Archive
 May 2008 —
 UC Presents AFSCME with Last, Best and Final Offer; Union Rejects UC’s Offer without Movement towards Compromise
UC’s PCT bargaining team met with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees late into the night on Thursday, May 22. At the meeting, the university presented the union with its last, best and final offer. The union rejected the university’s offer, and when asked if they planned to offer a counterproposal, the union indicated that their last offer from May 5th would remain on the table as their position. In our most recent proposal to the union, the university offered enhanced range minimums for lower paid titles at UCLA and UCSD; offered increased year one increases for specific titles at UCSF; and offered enhancements in wage increases in the 2nd and 3rd years of the contract. The package included: · WAGES: In year one alone, increases between 4-15% to bring patient care technical employee salaries to market competitive levels, movement to a step-based pay structure based on UC experience within a classification. In the second and third years of the contract, range adjustments/individual increases that range between a minimum of 2% and 4% in addition to step movement in each year;
· HOURS OF WORK: Beginning October 1, 2009, UC has proposed to pay time and a half after shift for most employees and double time after 12 hours; · HEALTH CARE BENEFITS: The University of California has offered the same health benefit plans to patient care technical employees that are offered to all other UC employees, at the same cost. The package proposal outlines conditions for possible reopeners on benefits in the event that premiums increase by more than 10%; · RETIREMENT: UC employees have not had to contribute toward the cost of their pension benefits – considered the gold standard by many – for over 17 years due, in part, to strong investment performance. While contributions from both UC and employees will ultimately be needed to keep UC’s pension plan strong, UC has guaranteed there will be no contributions by employees until September 30, 2008. The package proposal outlines conditions for possible reopeners on retirement in the event there is a need for employee contributions to the pension. The union is scheduled to announce the results of their strike vote this morning (May 23). While the university cannot speculate on the results, it is clear that the union’s goal throughout bargaining has been to align the two bargaining units in order to allow for a combined work action. On May 21 the university filed an unfair labor practice charge against the union with the Public Employment Relations Board detailing this charge along with other actions made throughout negotiations by the union which indicate their lack of good faith in the process, including refusing to make counterproposals. In addition, the university is seeking a temporary restraining order in the event the union moves forward with a strike. UC has bargained in good faith and has made a number of package proposals in the course of bargaining that would provide wage increases and guarantee patient care technical employees the same high quality benefits as other UC employees. The union has repeatedly rejected the university’s proposals. The university does not believe that a strike is in the best interest of UC students, patients or employees, and UC’s bargaining team continues to reiterate the need for mediation between the two parties in order to reach agreement, which is the ultimate goal of the university.
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