University of California officials announced today (Feb. 25) that UC has reached an agreement with the American Federation of Teachers union on a new labor contract for UC's approximately 400 librarians. The university reached a tentative agreement with AFT in mid-December, and received confirmation earlier this week that union members approved the agreement.

"Our librarians play a very important role in helping UC carry out its research and instructional mission, and we are very pleased to have reached an agreement that acknowledges their excellent work," said Dwaine Duckett, UC vice president for systemwide human resources. "The university also appreciates deeply the AFT's willingness to craft an agreement that recognizes the current fiscal crisis we're facing."

Key features of the contract include:

Wages:

• For 2008-9 and 2009-10 fiscal years — participation in the regular UC merit program

• For 2010-11 — participation in the regular UC merit program; across-the-board increases on par with those given to non-represented academics, if any

Benefits: Librarians will continue to enjoy the same excellent medical and retirement benefits provided by UC and will contribute to monthly premiums and other benefits costs on the same basis as other UC academic employees.

Professional development funds: UC will modestly increase funds available to librarians for professional development for calendar year 2010 by approximately $8,000 systemwide.

Duration: The current contract will be extended through Sept. 30, 2012.

Mediation sessions following an impasse in the negotiations between the AFT and UC began last spring and concluded in mid-December with a tentative agreement.