The University of California and University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) union have reached tentative agreement on a two-year contract for technical employees.

Salary increases for 2000-01 will be retroactive to Oct. 1, 2000, and increases for 2001-02 will be effective Oct. 1, 2001.

"We are pleased to have reached agreement with the union," said Judith W. Boyette, UC associate vice president for human resources and benefits. "These employees play a valuable role at UC. We look forward to continuing a productive, effective working relationship with them."

For 2000-01, step-based employees will receive a 4.49 percent across-the-board increase and open-range employees will receive a 2.49 percent across-the-board increase. Campuses may
apply its normal merit programs to the employees. In addition, agreements have been reached on numerous campus- and title-specific groups.

For 2001-02, there will be a 4.5 percent increase above the maximum of the salary range for employees who have been at the maximums of their salary ranges for five years at the same classification and the same campus as of Oct. 1, 2001. In addition, bargaining unit employees will be eligible for the same general salary increase in 2001-02 as other staff employees, a figure dependent upon funding provided in the final state budget. There also are several special title-specific and campus-specific increases.

Other agreements include up to 40 hours training at the supervisor's discretion, up from 24 hours, and a new pilot program for grievance resolution at three UC campuses.

UC's 4,000 technical employees work in diverse job classifications throughout the system, which includes 10 campuses, five medical centers and three national laboratories. Employees who belong to the UPTE technical unit include laboratory assistants, computer resource specialists, animal technicians, art models, translator-interpreters, electronics technicians, writers, editors, artists, computer operators, and firefighters.