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UC Staff Election Moves Forward
By VIC COX
Negotiators from the University and the University Professional and Technical Employees union (UPTE) have reached "conceptual agreement on election matters," reports Paul Schwartz, UC labor spokesman in the Office of the President. Both sides are now examining the agreement, which includes definition of the proposed bargaining unit among other key details.
The agreement, once the parties officially approve it, will pave the way to a systemwide vote of approximately 12,000 to 13,000 unrepresented staff and administrative professionals, widely known as "99s." UPTE estimates it already represents 11,000 UC researchers and health care professionals.
Asked about the next step in the process, Schwartz replied, "If both sides approve, we'd ask PERB (the Public Employment Relations Board) to sanction the agreement and set an election date."
The union newsletter Election Countdown added that PERB conducts the election by mailing secret ballots to home addresses of those eligible to vote. A date for the 99s' vote on the question of exclusive representation has yet to be determined, but both sides said unofficially that they expect it to come early next year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) have been posted on the UCOP Web site <http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/
policies/labor_relations> and UPTE's site <www.upte.org> also explained what representation means. Both agreed that should the union be voted in, members of the bargaining unit will pay either dues, if UPTE membership is chosen, or a legally required "agency fee," if an employee decides not to join the union.
policies/labor_relations> and UPTE's site <www.upte.org> also explained what representation means. Both agreed that should the union be voted in, members of the bargaining unit will pay either dues, if UPTE membership is chosen, or a legally required "agency fee," if an employee decides not to join the union.
Currently, both dues and fees are the same amount, the FAQ said. The deduction is 1.15 percent of the employee's monthly gross retirement income. There are caps and a division between those earning $30,000 and below a year and those who make more than $30,000. At present, the former will pay no more than $25 and the latter $35 each month, according to the FAQ.
If there is no difference between union dues and agency fees for union services, sometimes called "fair share" fees, there are differences in decision-making. Only union members vote on bargaining positions, union leadership, amount of dues and agency fees, and whether or not to accept contracts on wages and working conditions.