"We Will Continue to Fight For Workers at UC"

It took two years of tough bargaining, but University Professional and Technical Employees/CWA Local 9119 has won a tentative agreement covering 9,000 researchers and technicians at the University of California.

The five-year agreement provides for pay increases of 14.5 percent over the contract term, plus a $1,000 lump sum payment to be paid this July.

The tentative settlement will be sent to members for a ratification vote.

Progress in bargaining was delayed by university officials who refused to fairly address workers’ concerns about their pay and retirement security. 

Union members kept up a constant mobilization campaign, lobbied the state legislature, won support from students who were protesting a huge hike in student fees, to $10,000 and gained public and community support through a media campaign.

In other improvements, the contract sets up a $1.7 million equity pool to help address pay inequities for workers in some job titles. The university will contribute 4 percent into the workers’ pension plan this year, and has agreed to match or exceed additional 1 percent contributions by employees in 2011 and 2012.

The contract also limits increases in workers’ health benefits and parking fees.

“This is a great agreement, especially considering the terrible state of California’s economy,” said UPTE-CWA Local 9119 President Jelger Kalmijn. “We won good raises and placed real limits on how much the university can charge for health care and other benefits. We will continue to fight for workers at UC, especially in the area of job security,” he added.

Photo Caption: Two years of mobilizing by UPTE-CWA Local 9119 members at the University of California helped secure a strong contract.