Right now, 7,500 UC staff are taking the first step towards forming a union and we have until this Friday, May 2nd, to sign union authorization cards. Signing a card is essential to demonstrate support for moving to the next step: a vote to unionize.
140,000 other UC workers who already have unions and get to collectively bargain are able to enjoy guaranteed pay increases, caps on monthly premium increases, and a seat at the table to ensure staff are kept informed and that their voices and expertise are heard at the highest levels of leadership. That’s why I was so excited to learn about the unionization effort and sign my card.
Whether you’re just starting out and want to ensure clear pathways for promotion and advancement, a mid-career employee concerned about workload and understaffing, or a later stage employee concerned about their pension, there’s a lot at stake for all of us. Here are a few of the benefits guaranteed in public higher education collective bargaining agreements that we could choose to negotiate for once we form a union:
- Guaranteed annual pay raises
- Equitable access to hybrid or remote work options
- Fair and transparent path to reconcile workload issues and “job creep”
- Establishment of career advancement pathways (contract, career)
- Longer minimum contract durations to increase job security
- Reliable retirement benefits and expanded access to a pension
- 24 days paid vacation
- Family-friendly policies (parental leave, childcare, affordable healthcare)
I recommend reviewing this one page summary of what collective bargaining has done for our other UC colleagues and what it can do for us.
These are all issues that we can negotiate with UC for better terms, just as our colleagues have. To continue to learn more, RSVP to this Wednesday’s Town Hall at 12pm for a brief union 101, a Q&A with unionized staff, and a discussion about next steps in our unionization process.
In Support,
Eve Perry
Computational and Data Science Research Specalist
UCSF
