Tentative agreement ratified by 98%, nearly 12k votes!
Nearly 12,000 members participated in our ratification vote, with 98% voting in favor of ratification. Our ratification vote means our new contract terms with the University of California and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are effective immediately, with the following timelines:
The UPTE Floating Holiday will be available within 120 days of ratification; we are awaiting UC’s confirmation of when it will be available for use.
Combined Pregnancy & Childcaring Leave: we are awaiting UC’s confirmation that those already on Pregnancy Disability Leave can remain on leave by combining it with the new provisions.
Lump sums for those eligible for a January 2025 step, but at the top of their scale, will be paid within 120 days.
The following will be processed within 120 days, retroactive to the first full pay period following ratification (November 23 for bi-weekly pay, December 1 for monthly pay)
Step placement for workers in Dietitian 4, BHC/BHPP 1-4, and Optometrist titles
Adjustment of scales with steps below $25/hr
For Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: The Lab is working to process the October 2025 7% raises now. Salary ranges will be moved by 7%, which means that everyone who is currently within their title’s salary range will receive the full 7% increase. In future years, salary ranges will also be moved by the full amount of our raise.
Today is the final day to make benefit changes via Open Enrollment, but the Blue & Gold and Kaiser premiums shown in Open Enrollment remain inaccurate for UPTE members. The correct rates are those at upte.org/premiums. Because of this, UC has agreed to give UPTE members who wish to change to a Blue & Gold or Kaiser plan until December 5 to do so: Go here for instructions on how to make changes after Open Enrollment closes.
Our new contract is an important foundation for the work we still have to do: addressing profession and department-specific issues, welcoming workers who work alongside us—but who UC has moved into non-union titles—back into our union, and preparing to take on other issues important to our members, both inside and outside of UC.
In 2025 alone, more than 2,000 non-union workers won UPTE representation—with thousands more working to win representation right now! This work is crucial to building our strength and density for future fights.
I hope we are all able to rest and enjoy the beginning of the holiday season with the security this contract provides. Congratulations to us all!
In solidarity,
Dan Russell
UPTE President & Chief Negotiator
Business Technology Support Analyst, UC Berkeley
