UPTE Behavioral Health Workers Get a Boost from State Assemblymembers in Their Fight for a Fair Contract
As UC continues to drag its feet at the bargaining table, behavioral health clinicians have begun discussions with lawmakers about our employer's anti-union behavior. State legislators play important roles in oversight and allocating funding to UC, which is also our state's largest employer.
In recent weeks, we've started meeting with elected officials to discuss our ongoing issues at the table. In response, legislators have been quick to voice their support and willingness to help. Assemblymember Matt Haney, who represents the eastern Assembly district in San Francisco and sits on committees including Labor and Employment, as well as Public Employment and Retirement, sent a letter in support of UPTE behavioral health clinicians to President Drake, UC Chancellors, and CEOs.
"The growing mental health and addiction crisis in our state affects all of us, including students at the University of California. UC behavioral health counselors and psychiatric professionals serve students seeking support for conditions such as depression, anxiety, substance misuse, trauma, stress, and even suicidality. These conditions can unexpectedly impact anyone at any time, and the pressures of higher education can exacerbate them," Assemblymember Haney said in his letter, also highlighting UC's failure to respond to our information requests, which we believe constitutes an unfair labor practice.
Despite agreeing to UPTE's proposal for pay scales at UC Berkeley, UC's negotiator is proposing 37% less for the same workers at UC Davis, 26% less at UC San Francisco, 25% less at UC Irvine, 19% less at UCLA, 30% less at UC Merced, 35% less at UC Riverside, 33% less at UC Santa Barbara, and 30% less at UC San Diego. This is shameful, considering the increased demand for mental health care services among UC students and the persistent clinician vacancies.
Taking a step back and looking at UC's behavior from a broader perspective, a pattern becomes evident in their negotiating style. UC seems to intentionally delay bargaining through last-minute cancellations, refusal to provide legally required information, illogical proposals they are unable or unwilling to explain, and an overall lack of urgency to reach an agreement. Such behavior is disgraceful for our state's largest employer.
Join us in our fight. If you haven't already, you can sign our open letter here. You can also join us at our next bargaining session on June 29 or get involved in upcoming meetings with mental health practitioners at your respective campus. Email callen@upte.org to learn more.