UC, AFSCME reach tentative agreements on new four-year contracts for health care, service workers
The University of California today (Jan. 28) announced tentative four-year agreements with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union representing UC’s approximately 16,000 patient care and 10,000 service workers.
“These tentative contracts, achieved through the hard work and good faith efforts of the AFSCME and UC negotiating teams, reflect how critically important UC employees are to meeting our mission,” said UC Board of Regents Chair John A. Pérez. “These agreements provide hardworking UC employees with the benefits and protections they deserve, and it moves UC closer to being the kind of employer we need to be.”
“We are pleased that after working with AFSCME leadership to address joint concerns and resolve our outstanding differences, we are able to meet the needs of our valued patient care and service workers as well as those of the University,” said Peter Chester, the UC’s executive director of labor relations.
AFSCME-represented patient care and service workers will vote in the next few weeks to ratify the contracts, which include the following highlights:
Compensation for patient care employees:
A 6 percent across-the-board increase plus one experience-based increase upon a signed contract (UCLA/UCSF will run local experience-based increase programs)
Upon a signed contract, a one-time $500 payment to per diem and limited employees who worked at least 400 hours in calendar year 2019
Annual 3 percent across-the-board increases in years 2021-24
Annual 2 percent experience-based increases in years 2020-24 (UCLA/UCSF will run local experience-based increase programs)
A one-time payment of $3,000 for all eligible full-time employees upon a signed contract (payments for eligible part-time employees will be pro-rated)
A second one-time payment of $1,000 for all eligible full-time employees in 2021 (payments for eligible part-time employees will be pro-rated)
A one-time payment of $1,000 for employees who have or will achieve 20 years of service during the life of the contract, beginning in July 2020
Compensation for service employees:
A 3 percent increase, plus an increase based on experience, upon contract ratification
Annual 3 percent across-the-board increases in years 2020-24
Annual 2 percent experience-based increases in years 2020-24
A one-time payment of $2,500 for all eligible full-time employees upon a signed contract (payments for eligible part-time employees will be pro-rated)
A second one-time payment of $1,500 for all eligible full-time employees in 2021 (payments for eligible part-time employees will be pro-rated)
A one-time payment of $1,000 for employees who have or will achieve 20 years of service during the life of the contract, beginning in July 2020
Upon a signed contract, a one-time $500 payment to per diem and limited employees who worked at least 400 hours in calendar year 2019
The following benefits and protections apply to both patient care and service workers:
Health benefits: UC’s quality health and welfare benefits at the same graduated salary-based rates as other employees, plus a $10 cap on monthly increases for Kaiser and Health Net Blue & Gold plans. UC’s salary-based approach to health insurance means lower-paid employees pay lower premiums.
Pension benefits: New bargaining unit employees will receive the same pension benefits as current AFSCME-represented employees.
Contracting out: UC’s contract continues to prohibit layoffs as a result of subcontracting decisions and creates career employment opportunities at UC by placing additional restrictions on UC’s ability to contract out service unit work. The new contract will also make it easier for eligible contract workers to convert to UC employment.
If ratified, the patient care and service worker contracts would be effective until July 2024 and October 2024 respectively.