UC Unions Endorse Ruth and David for UCRS Advisory Board
The election for the University of California Retirement System (UCRS) Advisory Board is upon us. The Advisory Board provides UC with strategic, non-binding input on pension matters. Strong worker representation on the board plays a critical role for raising our concerns and accessing the information we need to protect what we've earned to secure our future.
Your vote is key to retaining our seat on the Advisory Board and defending our pension from UC attacks. UC management holds most of the seats on the board even though union members represent 70% of all UCRS plan participants. Through our presence on the UCRS Advisory Board, we protect our hard-won pension and retiree health benefits.
This year, there are candidates who are members of AFSCME 3299 and CNA, who are the only unions that have fought alongside UPTE to keep everyone we represent on the same pension benefits. They also have been endorsed by other UC unions: CUCFA, Teamsters 2010, UAPD, UAW 2865 & 5810, and UC-AFT.
Ruth Zolayvar, AFSCME 3299 and current UCRS Advisory Board member, and David Yamada, Chief Nurse Representative for the California Nurses Association, are the only candidates endorsed by UC unions. We need both of them on the Advisory Board so that strong worker voices are at the table with UC.
Ruth Zolayvar
Inpatient Pharmacy Technician III
UCSD Medical Center
My name is Ruth Zolayvar and I work as an in Patient Pharmacy Tech of UCSD Jacobs Medical Center.
I have been at UC for 17 years. And, I have served as an UCRS Advisory Board member since 2019.
I care very deeply about the health of our pension. I know how much our members rely on this income stream in their retirement.
Holding UC accountable for securing the health and transparency of the pension is my way of saluting all of the unsung heroes and loyal workers at the University, making sure that they are able to retire with respect and dignity.
It has been my privilege to represent UC workers from all walks of life, and I would be honored to continue to be your voice on the UCRS Advisory Board.
David Yamada
Chief Nurse Representative for the
California Nurses Association, UCLA
My name is David Yamada I'm the Chief Nurse Representative for the California Nurses Association and I would be honored to serve on the UCRP advisory committee and represent the nearly 18,000 nurses at the University of California.
The pension is a benefit that is near and dear to the hearts of our members, so many of us come to UC specifically for the pension. We have fought in many rounds of bargaining to maintain our pension. We fought off the CAP and the employer's proposal to offer a "choice" to our members between pension and 401K. I am uniquely qualified for this because nursing is my second job, before I became a nurse I was I was an accountant doing corporate audit for a big 4 public accounting firm.
The pension is one of the main reasons I have remained at UCLA as a nurse for 14 years. I intend to stay here until retirement as long as the pension remains healthy and UCLA remains a safe environment to practice nursing. It would be an honor to do my part through this committee in protecting the pension on behalf of all the UC nurses.
How To Vote
The UCRS Advisory Board Election will be held from May 22 to June 16, 2023.
1. Check your UC E-mail for a message from help@yeselections.com titled "Vote in the 2023 UCRS Advisory Board Staff Election." The email will include a PIN and a direct link to the YesElections voting site. Voters can then choose to vote electronically or mail the paper ballot directly to YesElections. Voters who don't have a UC email will be mailed a ballot.
2. Visit the YesElections website Click on the YesElection voting site link in your email and enter your pin number.
3. Vote Select Ruth Zolayvar & David Yamada from the list of candidates. Click submit and then confirm to complete the voting process.