Clerical workers at the University of California, following a ratification vote by members of the Coalition of University Employees (CUE), have a new union contract. UC and CUE representatives signed the first-ever agreement on Dec. 20, 2000. It became effective immediately.

"We are very pleased to have reached this agreement with CUE," said Judith W. Boyette, UC associate vice president for human resources and benefits. "I want to thank clerical employees for their patience and for their continued dedication to the university during the negotiations process."

The new UC-CUE contract provides for wage increases through 2001, including retroactive payments.

The following salary adjustments are broken down by year for 1999-2000 and for 2000-2001:

1999-2000 The new contract takes 0.8 percent dedicated to the Incentive Award Program and permanently incorporates it into 1999-2000 base salary increases. This funding is no longer available for incentive awards. The resulting Oct. 1, 1999 range and merit adjustments are:

- 2.8 percent salary range adjustment.

- Traditional merit program for 1999-2000, using the single merit date of Oct. 1, 1999.

2000-2001 The new contract combines traditional funding allocations and the 2000 salary augmentation funding to achieve the following increases:

- 2.0 percent salary range adjustment effective July 1, 2000.

- 2.0 percent salary range adjustment effective Oct. 1, 2000.

- 1.0 percent effective Sept. 1, 2001, funded by 2001-2002 range adjustment funding.

- The addition of a step to the top of the range for all titles except per diem employees, effective Oct. 1, 2000.

- Traditional merit program for 2000-2001, using the single merit date of Oct. 1, 2001.

Other highlights of the new contract, which expires Sept. 30, 2001, include:

- New procedures that require a bona fide business purpose to conduct an employee background check, including a credit check.

- An agreement that allegations of discrimination not tied to other provisions of the contract can be appealed to arbitration.

- The contract also states that UC managers will commit to "fair and respectful treatment" of clerical employees.

The University of California will resume negotiations with CUE for the next contract in early spring 2001.