After negotiating the 2003-04 wages and benefits structure since July 2003, the impasse between University and the Coalition of Union Employees (CUE), which represents clerical workers systemwide, has resulted in the imposition of the final proposal, UC officials announced on March 24.

CUE’s rejection of UC’s “last, best, and final contract proposal” from March 3 as inadequate triggered the impasse. With no negotiated resolution of the impasse, the University is legally permitted to implement its final offer over union objections. This is because all stages of the bargaining process, including fact-finding, have been completed, explained UC officials.

Under these imposed contract terms, there will be no changes to either benefits or UC contributions for CUE members, though parking costs will increase this month at several campuses other than UCSB. UC offered CUE no across-the-board wage increase, which the union had sought, but its last proposal did boost wages for police and some medical center employees on two campuses in the system. UCSB was not one of them.

“While the University would have preferred a mutual agreement with the union, we’ve compromised as much as resources allow, and now it’s time to focus on current negotiations for a new contract and the promise of increased salary funding that the new budget compact offers,” said Howard Pripas, executive director of UC labor relations.

UC officials point hopefully to the budget compact the governor agreed to last year, which allows employee salaries to begin to rise with the 2005-06 state budget—if supported by the Legislature.

For information on UC positions go to <http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/policies/ labor_relations/index.html>.
Go to <http://www.cueunion.org/cue_home.php> for the CUE Web site and its bargaining updates.