UC has been negotiating with AFSCME for the last 10 months for a new contract for more than 11,000 UC patient care technical employees and for the last seven months for a new contract for 8,000 UC service employees. UC's latest proposals include more than $25 million in combined wage increases in the first year of the contracts, and conversion to step-based wage structures, which the union said was a requirement for agreement.
For the past five months, state-appointed mediators have been working with the parties to try to help resolve remaining differences.
Despite an announced strike by AFSCME today, scheduled for June 4-5, UC officials say they remain focused on getting an agreement.
"Our patient care and service employees play a critical role in delivering quality care and services to our patients, students and the broader communities we serve, and we're working hard for fair contracts for both groups," said Howard Pripas, executive director of systemwide labor relations at UC. "AFSCME's strike threat is very unfortunate as it does not help move us closer to an agreement, but we will not be deterred from our goal of getting good contracts for our dedicated employees."
According to UC officials, the bargaining record clearly demonstrates the university's genuine effort to reach agreement with AFSCME, through progressively enhanced proposals aimed at improving wages and other issues important to UC employees.
University officials said that while they hope the union will work with UC on resolving differences at the bargaining table, all UC campuses and medical centers have contingency plans in place to ensure service to patients and students in the event of a strike.
Details about UC's proposals and these negotiations can be found online at: www.ucpatientcaretechs.com
http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/policies_employee_labor_relations/collective_bargaining_units/service_sx/bargaining_update.html
For more news and information about the University of California: www.universityofcalifornia.edu