The proposal would have provided for approximately $2.8 million in wage increases for employees in a variety of positions throughout the UC system.
"It's unfortunate that AFSCME refused to accept the university's most recent offer," said Howard Pripas, UC's executive director of labor relations. "Not only would the contract extension have helped the bargaining process, but it would have provided up to 13.5 percent in wage increases for certain employee titles on top of 4.5 percent across-the-board increases, and other previously-agreed-upon increases for this bargaining unit during this fiscal year (2007-08)."
UC has been bargaining with AFSCME over a new contract for UC service employees since October 2007. The previous agreement expired today. The five-month contract extension would have allowed further negotiation on a number of important issues still on the table, such as wages and health and retirement benefits.
AFSCME has filed a request for impasse with the Public Employment Relations Board; the university will respond to the union's request next week.
Additional information about these negotiations is available at:
http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/policies/labor_relations/index.html
For more news and information about the University of California: www.universityofcalifornia.edu