Last week we had a discouraging bargaining session at UCLA, when the University shared disappointing counter proposals for salary, benefits, professional development funding, and more. UC-AFT returned to the virtual bargaining table today with productive counters on several articles. We were encouraged by a great observer turnout. Read on below for more details on our abbreviated bargaining session.
Your UC-AFT table team will resume bargaining on Zoom on Monday, August 12 starting at 10am. We’ll be ready with serious counter proposals on several of the economic articles, including Article 13 – Salary. All hands on deck to pack our Zoom room again! RSVP to join the UC-AFT community room next week (University-hosted bargaining Zoom link coming soon) and show the University the major improvements needed to support U17 librarians.
UC-AFT Proposals
Article 2 – Nondiscrimination
We presented a counter to the University’s proposal from early June, which would allow us to separate grievances that also involve other articles from nondiscrimination grievances. This would allow those parts of the grievance to move forward while the campus investigation on discrimination is conducted.
Article 9 – Health and Safety
UC-AFT proposed going back to the current contract language for this article because we felt that it was more expansive than the University’s last proposal from January, which rested on CalOSHA guidance. We hope that the University will develop more robust health and safety policies to address the issues we face on campus in light of the recent pandemic and natural disasters.
Article 25 – Arbitration
We passed our third counter proposal to continue to refine language around discouraging dilatory tactics in the arbitration processes. Arbitration is often an inherently slow process due to there being relatively few arbitrators available, but it’s important that we have a clear, mutual timelines that allows cases to proceed.
Article 32 – Flexible Work Arrangements
UC-AFT passed our fourth counter proposal, accepting UC’s language and adding a clarifying statement about how full time remote work arrangements may be modified and how these changes must be separate from those covered under Article 23 – Corrective Action and Dismissal.
Additional Tentative Agreements
UC-AFT and the University entered into a tentative agreement on Article 8 – Layoff and Article 18 – Temporary Appointees.
University Proposals
The University did not offer any counter proposals.
Upcoming Bargaining: August 12 on Zoom
Remember to RSVP to join the UC-AFT community room on August 12! We will be passing our counters on critical articles including professional development (and PI status) and salary!
In solidarity,
The UC-AFT Unit 17 Table Team
Kendra K. Levine, Bay Area, Chief Negotiator
I-Wei Wang, Bay Area
Timothy Vollmer, Bay Area
Jared Campbell, Davis
Mitchell Brown, Irvine
Xaviera Flores, Los Angeles
Miki Goral, Los Angeles
Joy Holland, Los Angeles
Jerrold Shiroma, Merced
Carla Arbagey, Riverside
Michael Yonezawa, Riverside
Tori Maches, San Diego
Laurel McPhee, San Diego
Jenny Reiswig, San Diego
Kristen LaBonte, Santa Barbara
Alix Norton, Santa Cruz
Tamara Pilko, Santa Cruz
Jess Waggoner, Santa Cruz