“Unbounded financial liability” from UC healthcare proposal: Fact Finder
UPTE and the University have completed the final steps of the state-mandated impasse process with the release of a report by a neutral arbitrator.
The report is not binding on either party: it is intended to help reach agreement but does not restrict UPTE's right to strike in order to win our demands.
Fact finding reports typically recommend the status quo and UC was unable to make such a case for their proposal to remove healthcare premium caps, leading the fact finder to conclude:
"This credit-based model does not exist in any other UC collective bargaining agreement. All comparator unions rely on premium caps or tiered structures—not flat monthly credits—to manage cost exposure. Furthermore, UC's proposed model lacks a cap on total employee premium increases, meaning that even with the credit, employees could face unbounded financial liability."
For better or worse, no mediator or fact finder has the power to compel UC to make the necessary changes to prioritize research, students or patient care. That is up to us.
In 2019, the fact finder recommended against UC's proposal to cut the pension for new hires and remove healthcare premium caps.
However, it was not the fact finding report that moved UC but thousands of UPTE members going on strike.
We won 19-22% in additional raises and steps, saved the right for new hires to retire at 60 instead of 65, and maintained our healthcare premium cost caps.
Click here to read the full report and click here to RSVP for our webinar on Tuesday July 22nd at noon to hear more about the next steps in our fight!
In solidarity,
Dan Russell
UPTE President & Chief Negotiator
Business Technology Support Analyst, UC Berkeley