University of California officials announced today (June 9) that the Coalition of University Employees union has informed the university that it plans to conduct another unlawful strike June 13-15, 2005.

CUE has rejected not only numerous compromise proposals from the university, but also the university's repeated invitations to seek assistance from a neutral state mediator.

Wages remain the key obstacle. UC has offered the union four compromise wage proposals over the course of negotiations, while CUE has presented only one. CUE has not accepted UC's current proposal, which expires the close of business on June 10. This chart illustrates the parties' current wage proposals:

Year

UC wage proposal

(expires 6-10-05))

CUE wage proposal

(virtually unchanged since spring 2004)

2004-05

No increase due to lack of state salary funding

5% across-the-board increase + full step increase regardless of state funding or increases for other campus-based employees

2005-06

Total 3.5% across-the-board increases consistent with state funding and systemwide increases for other staff, and .5% equity increases (with a large portion of the equities used to boost Librarian Assistant salary ranges)

7% across-the-board increases + full step increase regardless of state funding or increases for other campus-based employees

2006-07

3% across-the-board increases consistent with state funding and systemwide increases for other staff, plus .5% equity increases

9% across-the-board increases + full step increase regardless of state funding or increases for other campus-based employees

2007-08

4% across-the-board increases consistent with state funding and systemwide increases for other staff, plus .5% equity increases

No proposal

“It is very troubling that CUE continues to reject reasonable wage proposals and every good-faith attempt the university has made to resolve the remaining issues, including our invitation for state-assisted mediation ,” said Howard Pripas, UC director of labor relations. “And it is especially disturbing that the union would ask our hospital-based clerical employees to strike without giving the customary 10-day notice.”

Because negotiations are ongoing, the university considers the strike unlawful, and any employee that does not report to work during the strike without advance approval or appropriate documentation could face potential disciplinary action.

The bargaining record clearly demonstrates that the university has negotiated in good faith and offered fair proposals. The university must now consider filing additional complaints with the California Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) against CUE.

Each UC campus and medical center will take appropriate steps to ensure that the strike will not disrupt normal operations.

The university has been bargaining with CUE over a new contract for one year.

For more information about the university's proposals and these negotiations, go to:

http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/policies/labor_relations/bargaining_updates/cx/bargaining_update.html

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