Bargaining Update #5: UC finally makes a compensation proposal — and it leaves a lot to be desired
We were back at the bargaining table with UC last week near UC Irvine Medical Center. It was tremendous seeing hundreds of UPTE members join us for mass meetings and to pack the bargaining table.
UC finally made their compensation proposal—the first proposal that addresses any of our priorities.
UC is trying to divide us — offering only 1 step increase in 3 years for researchers or technical workers, while leaving all of us behind inflation and our CNA-represented nursing colleagues. UC's proposed "raise" is actually a real wage cut — it doesn't even make up for the significant inflation that has eaten away at wages since the pandemic.
| UPTE's Pay Proposal | UC's Pay Proposals |
|---|---|
| 5% raise and $25 minimum wage retroactive to July 2023 9% raise in 2025, 8% in 2026, 8% in 2027 Annual step increases and additional steps for every scale Minimum step placement / adjustment based on experience Equal raises plus 3% retro to May '22 for workers at LBNL 10% evening, 15% night and weekend shift differentials |
NO retroactive raise, $25 minimum in July 2025 5% in 2025, 3% in 2026, 2%* in 2027 NO step in 2025 or 2027 for RX/TX, Annual steps for HX but NO additional steps on scales NO minimum step placement / adjustment based on experience No proposal for LBNL No proposal for shift differentials *1% additional in '27 contingent on state funding |
UC also made their vacation and sick leave proposals:
No vacation increase
No guaranteed right to use vacation
No right to cash out vacation
Per Diems can only accrue 2 days of sick leave
When questioned, UC acknowledged that based on their proposal, workers may never be allowed to use any of their accrued vacation time.
According to UC's bargaining updates, their offers are "not designed to be a 'starting point' but rather reasonable offers that reflect the significance of the services UPTE-represented employees provide."
Check out this side-by-side of our proposals vs UC’s proposals and please feel free to print and distribute.
While this is far from what we deserve, it is a much better proposal than the University has made at this point in previous negotiations. They see our growing power — and that should give us confidence that we can win better wages and improvements in career progression, work-life balance, staffing, and job security—if we keep building our collective strength.
UC's own representatives do not seem to understand how many of our colleagues are struggling to survive, initially claiming that no technical workers make less that $25 an hour—when in fact, more than 25% of technical workers earn under $25 an hour.
Visit upte.org/uofcalifornia to read our other bargaining updates.
"We have kept UC running these past years even while costs of living have skyrocketed. After 10 years at UCSF, I make $22.72 an hour. UC's is proposing to keep my family in poverty, and force our colleagues to decide between a dignified life and staying at UC. It is high time for us to reclaim our sense of self-worth, self-respect, and self-love by preparing to strike if necessary.”
Lalaine Rojo
UCSF Lab Assistant
UPTE Unit Representative
UPTE Bargaining Team member
