Campaign Updates

The chief lobbyist for California Teamsters in Sacramento, Barry Broad, will speak at campuses and medical centers throughout the state to explain the state budget process and what it means for us. Barry will be visit each campus this week and next week to talk to all of our members about Governor Brown's proposed $500 million cut to the UC and its potential impact on clerical employees. This event will also include the most recent update on our contract bargaining. All CUE/Teamsters members at UCSB are invited and encouraged to attend. Come find out what is happening with the budget and our contract, and how you can get involved!

The Public Affairs Administrator for Teamsters Public Affairs Council Marsi Newman will be speaking at San Francisco.

The film the Regents didn't want you to see!

An independent film by Rico Chavez about the University of California's misplaced priorities and how they are hurting the people who learn, teach and work under the UC System.

CUE-Teamsters Are Taking Legislative Actions

We have begun to collect postcards to send to the leaders of our state legislature, Assembly Speaker John Perez and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, to ask them to use their influence to pressure the UC to give CUE a fair contract. CUE members can write testimonies on the postcards about how the lack of fair compensation at the UC has affected them. Our union is aiming to collect thousands of postcards from members; be sure to sign a postcard as a testiment to our situation here at the University of California.
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October 22, 2010 Chancellor Meeting

CUE-Teamsters on all UC campuses are making their voices heard. We are asking campus chancellors and directors why their clerical and allied services staff can't get pay raises or a new contract.

On Monday, about 20 Santa Cruz CUE-Teamsters attended a town hall forum to ask Chancellor George Blumenthal why the University is refusing to sign a fair contract with pay increases. CUE-Teamsters were definitely visible with signs, banners, and shirts at this town hall meeting.

At UC Riverside's Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, Chancellor Timothy White assured CUE-Teamster clerical workers who asked about our contract that he is "on your side."

This morning twenty UC Berkeley CUE-Teamsters distributed
informational leaflets to Berkeley community leaders at a breakfast hosted by Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau, asking them to support the staff who are members of the Berkeley community and who are not being treated with respect by UC.

And yesterday at UC Irvine the Chancellor's annual staff assembly forum was attended by a dozen CUE-Teamster members. When asked if he would be an advocate to obtain fair wage increases, Chancellor Michael Drake responded unequivocally, "yes", he would be happy to be an advocate.

More actions are scheduled on campuses around the state today and next week. Thanks to all of you who are taking part - we are stronger when we stand together!
 

October 7, 2010 Elections Registration

Sept 17,2010 Regents Meeting

The newly formed CUE-Teamsters Communication Action Network has recruited hundreds of CUE-represented volunteers from every campus to build a two-way communication and mobilization network to help us win a fair contract.

Our first task was to hear from you about what your priorities would be for a fair contract. The message to our CUE-Teamster leaders, staff and negotiators was loud and clear:

Pay us fairly, give us job security, stop the discrimination and treat us with respect.

We will take this message to the University’s Board of Regents meeting on Wednesday, September 15 in San Francisco. You can join your CUE-Teamster sisters and brothers, and show the Regents that we mean business. You can also show your support by signing a petition that will be delivered to the Regents that day.

We will gather at 8 am in front of the William J. Rutter Conference Center in Mission Bay. The address is 1675 Owens St, San Francisco, CA 94158. For more information, contact CUE-Teamsters at 510-845-2221.

We will raise these issues everywhere we can and on our individual campuses until we win a CUE-Teamsters contract that addresses these basic issues of fairness and equality.

If you cannot attend the Regents meeting on Sep. 15, please click through this link and sign the petition now so we can deliver your petitions to the UC Regents and UC President Mark Yudof on Wednesday!

In solidarity,

On behalf of the CUE-Teamsters Local 2010 Statewide Executive Board:

Anytra Henderson, Acting President

Amatullah Alaji-Sabrie, Chief Negotiator

Mary Higgins, Chief Steward

Stephanie Dorton, Secretary

Ginger Jones, Acting Treasurer

Maria LaBarrie, Southern Vice President

September 3, 2010 Summer Updates

CUE-TEAMSTER MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN STRATEGIC TRAINING

Last month,
several CUE-Teamsters Local 2010 members traveled to the Teamsters headquarters in Washington, D.C. to participate in a series of week-long workshops on methods for researching and analyzing information about employers and the essential steps in preparing for a contract campaign.


CONTRACT UPDATE

CUE's legal counsel has filed a legal action in court
against PERB and UC. As a result, the fact-finding process is temporarilyon hold. A hearing date has been set for October 22, 2010. Local 2010's officers and bargaining committee believe that these legal actions are necessary to help our efforts to get a fair contract. 

More importantly, when the university sees a mobilized CUE-Teamster bargaining unit engaged in a contract campaign statewide, our bargaining efforts will be exponentially strengthened.

Your bargaining team members ask for your wholehearted participation and support in the CAN (Communications Action Network) and for future actions coordinated throughout the state.

YES, YOU HAVE RIGHTS!

Did you know that you have a right to union representation in any meeting with a supervisor in which you have reason to believe that disciplinary action may result? If you are called into such a meeting, read them your Weingarten rights:
"If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated, or affect my personal
working conditions, I respectfully request that my union representative or steward be present at this meeting. If this discussion could lead to my being disciplined and you deny my request for representation, I choose not to answer any questions."
If your request is denied, you have the right
to refuse to answer questions. You should also contact your CUE-Teamster
steward immediately.

August 2010 UC Student Congress

UC Student Congress (Congress) -- Aug. 12-15, 2010 @ UC Irvine -- is UCSA’s annual membership conference, where members from each association come together to choose the campaigns students will be organizing and advocating for in the upcoming year. The issues students choose this weekend will be the focus of the organization and its resources for the year. Through our Action Agenda campaigns, we win victories that improve students’ lives and build power for students by investing and engaging more students in our work.
Student of Color Conference (SOCC) is the annual UCSA event where the membership comes together to engage students of color in our statewide campaigns.  SOCC is our oldest and largest conference, providing a venue for student of color and allied leaders to strategize around statewide and campus-based actions and build leadership. This year's event is being held at UC Santa Barbara Nov. 19-21, 2010. Please visit the SOCC website for event details. Early registration ends Friday, Nov. 5 ($20 per student/UCSA member campuses; $25 per student/non-UCSA member campuses.) Late registration fees are $25 per student/UCSA member campuses $30 per student/Non-UCSA member campuses.
UC Student Lobby Conference (SLC) brings the membership together to lobby at the State Capitol on legislation related to higher education issues.  Legislative priorities for these visits are based on the campaigns chosen at Congress. SLC provides opportunities to build member lobbying skills, refine student testimonials, and directly engage elected officials to support higher education. The 2011 UC Student Lobby Conference will be held in Feb. 25-28 at the Radisson, Sacramento.

From CUE Statewide Executive Board March 29, 2010

Dear CUE represented staff member:

Last week, CUE leadership was astounded to learn that AFSCME (local 3299), the union that represents the service and patient care workers at UC, has initiated a plan and campaign to decertify CUE as the exclusive representative for the clerical and allied services bargaining unit at UC. Ironically, from 1984 to 1997, AFSCME once
represented our unit. Frustrated by years of mistreatment and disrespect by AFSCME leadership, a group of clerical workers decertified from AFSCME and formed CUE as an independent member-run union. AFSCME is now seeking to reverse the process for some very dubious and unethical reasons. They have dubbed this campaign as "a reunification" but in reality it is a betrayal of union solidarity. For additional background and history click on this link to the CUE web site http://www.cueunion.org/general_info/about.php

It is critical for all CUE represented employees to understand with a successful decertification campaign and election the terms of the expired contract do not go away. The status quo continues as the new Union negotiates a contract. However, the TAs and other agreements at the bargaining table are gone, if UC does not wish to honor them. Having a new Union coming in to bargain from scratch could seriously delay getting a new contract and raises.

Although AFSCME representatives coming around will promise contract gains (similar to what has happened recently for patient care and service workers) they have no way of guaranteeing those promises.

The CUE Executive Board considers AFSCME's campaign to go after CUE represented staff a hostile, unethical betrayal of all UC represented employees. The timing of this action could not come at a worse time since we are in a critical stage of bargaining with UC. It is dumbfounding that another sister union, that we have supported and worked with, would choose this time to issue this vicious attack upon us. This hurts us, and this insidious action must give great comfort to UC. In the years since CUE was formed as a union, we have worked closely with AFSCME at every campus, as well as statewide, in the UC coalition of unions to promote our common issues.

We bargained in coalition with AFSCME to fight back UC's efforts to impose pension changes in 2007 and 2008. We have supported their strikes and rallies both with bodies on the picket lines, as well as with our treasury's financial resources by paying strike benefits to CUE workers who supported their most recent strike and the April 14, 2005 strike. At UCSF, 26 clericals received disciplinary letters for staying out in support of the April 2005 strike. CUE had to negotiate removal of those letters as part of own contract negotiations.

In the coming days you may see AFSCME organizers walking around asking you to sign pledge cards. The cards say you want them (AFSCME) to be the union that represents you. Please refuse to sign the cards and do not give them your employment or personal information, especially your social security number. If they get enough cards signed, they will then go to PERB (Public Employee Relations Board) with the assertion that clericals want AFSCME as their union. PERB will validate the signed cards and if enough valid cards are gathered there will be an election. All of this is a tremendous waste of union resources and takes the focus off the University's unfair labor policies and our current efforts in negotiations. We cannot afford two more years of contract negotiations. The only winner in this scenario is UC management not clerical and allied services workers.

Again, we ask you to refuse to sign the cards and continue supporting CUE, the union that puts YOU first.

We will be conducting many informational meetings on all the campuses throughout the UC system. If you have immediate questions, or want to volunteer your services, please contact your local contacts, or email us at support4CUE@CUEunion-action.org.

In true solidarity & on behalf of CUE Statewide Executive Board,
Amatullah Alaji-Sabrie negotiate88@gmail.com
Stephanie Dorton ladyesq2b@yahoo.com
Anytra Henderson calisunshineqt@gmail.com
Mary Higgins sfcuemary@gmail.com
Ginger Jones ginger_739@yahoo.com
Maria LaBarrie labarriejm@yahoo.com
Kristi Rank rankred@gmail.com
Dorthea Stewart dorthea.oncue@gmail.com

January 27, 2010

Dear Santa Cruz CUE members,

Your are invited to an Open Forum with CUE's Executive Board and Bargaining Team members this coming Friday, January 29 @ 12 noon and again at 5:30 pm (for those whom can't make it during lunch). CUE's legal advisor, Bob Bonsall, will be the guest speaker and will be able to answer any legal questions you may have regarding CUE. Over the months, there have been some issues and concerns. The Statewide Executive Board members will be available to hear the concerns of CUE employees and to share your concerns of the Local 10 leadership.

________________

DATE: Friday, January 29, 2010
PLACE: Humanities / Social Sciences - Room 359
TIME: 12:00 - 1:00pm and 5:30pm - 6:30pm
SPEAKER: Bob Bonsall, CUE's legal advisor
TITLE: Executive Board Meeting with Santa Cruz local Board and Members

AGENDA
- The Structure of CUE organization
- CUE Constitution
- Bargaining Team
- Side Letter
- Open Forum

(Light Refreshment will be served)
Looking forward to seeing you then,

Anytra Henderson
CUE Statewide Acting President

December 20, 2009

We end the year with thoughts of gratitude for the tremendous contributions made to the bargaining team by two CUE members. First, we were saddened to hear of the passing of Kathy Ciufi, president of the San Diego local. Kathy was a passionate CUE supporter and long time union activist. Every time the bargaining team was in San Diego, and her health permitted, Kathy attended the bargaining session and made it a point to join the team for lunch and utilized the time to give us words of encouragement and to express her concerns for those issues affecting CUE represented employees throughout the state and in San Diego in particular. We are grateful for having known such a wonderful human being.

Secondly, Alexis Talpash one of the two co-bargainers from the Riverside local retired from her position with the University. Alex, as she is affectionately known, is a very humble person and one of the most generous and kind persons you will ever meet. She will be missed by all team members for her insightful vision and reliable character. The members of the Riverside local can be confident Alex worked diligently to represent their concerns and interests and those of all CUE represented employees throughout the state. We wish Alex the best during her retirement.

12/8/09 Letter From CUE's Chief Negotiator on Effects of Temporary Layoff Agreement with UC

Original in PDF format.

I'm pleased to announce the CUE Bargaining Team has reached an agreement with the University regarding the effects of the temporary layoffs and campus closures, which contains substantial improvements over the program that the University initially sought to impose on CUE-represented employees.

Some of the improvements that we have achieved are as follows:

   1. Employees will receive the pay reduction resulting from the layoffs over a 12-month period, rather than all at once, in order to reduce the financial impact on employees and their families. However, employees that prefer to take the pay reduction at the time of the layoff have the right to do so upon written request.

   2. Layoff days will coincide with campus closures days, so that closures will generally not result in unpaid days additional to the number of layoff days. However, employees will have the right to request to take their layoff days at a different time if they prefer.

   3. Employees will continue to accrue vacation, sick leave, and other benefits during layoffs. Medical benefits will be maintained during layoffs as well.

   4. Since employees who are temporarily laid off will have less time to perform their assigned tasks, the University must take this fact into account in the performance evaluation process.

   5. The University may not require a CX employee to work overtime hours to perform work that would otherwise be performed by a laid off employee, except in emergency circumstances.

   6. The University must rescind all layoff notices already issued which do not comply with this agreement.

   7. The Union may enforce the agreement through the grievance procedure, or in court.

   8. In making this agreement on the effects of the layoffs, the Union explicitly reserved the right to continue its legal case challenging the University's right to impose the layoffs in the first place.

Of course, the University's imposition of temporary layoffs will create hardships on many of us. Nevertheless, the CUE Bargaining Team believes that these hard-won gains will help to lessen the burden for the employees we represent.

We also are continuing forward with our legal action on the decision to impose the temporary layoffs. As we have told you, this legal fight may take some time. That's why the Team is pleased that we have achieved these improvements that will help CX employees now.

If you have questions about this agreement, please direct them to your CUE Local, or to the Bargaining Team at clericals@cueunion.org.

The agreement itself will be posted on the CUE website shortly. As the implementation of the agreement moves forward, we expect to issue additional information about the specifics.

On behalf of the Bargaining Team, I wish to thank all of you who have worked hard to support your Union and your co-workers through this difficult time. It is through the hard work of many CUE members that this achievement is possible.

In Solidarity,
Amatullah Alaji-Sabrie
Chief Negotiator

December 4, 2009

Please note: Due to network and internet outage in the CUE state wide office the following message is being resent. There will be additional information regarding the Effects of Temporary Layoffs Agreement reached with the university in January 2010.

Special Bargaining Report #31

12/4/09

The CUE Bargaining Team worked late into the night last night and today we have an agreement with UC on the effects of the temporary lay offs of CX bargaining unit employees contemplated by the University.

Please note this Agreement does not cover employees in the medical centers and those fully funded by contracts and grants. It is applicable to those CX bargaining unit employees who are subject to temporary layoffs because CUE and the University were unable to come to agreement on the Salary Reduction/Furlough Plan.

The University issued temporary layoff notices at some locations and planned to issue temporary layoff notices at other locations in order to capture $13 million dollars of salary savings from CX bargaining unit employees to compensate for the 2009-10 budgetary shortfall. More detailed information will be forthcoming; in the meantime, some of the highlights of the Agreement include the following:

The ability to take lay off days over the campus closure (you must notify your supervisor in writing if you do not want to take any layoff days over the campus closure).

The ability to take the pay cut in monthly increments over a one year period or all at once during the time you are actually laid off (you must notify your supervisor in writing if you want the pay cut to occur all at once and possibly be eligible for unemployment benefits).

Monthly pay cuts will not occur until the February 1st, 2010 pay check

Layoff days are considered paid days for the purposes of calculating benefits, sick leave and vacation accruals

Number of layoff days as follows for full-time employees:

40, 000 and below 11 days corresponds to 4% reduction

40001 -50,000 13 days corresponds to 5% reduction

50,001 and above 16 days corresponds to 6% reduction

part-time employees with 50% or greater appointments will maintain their medical benefits at current levels

University acknowledges that employees who are temporarily laid off will have less time to perform their assigned tasks than they did under the pre-layoff schedules. This fact shall be taken into account in the performance evaluation process.

No one will be required to work overtime to perform work that would otherwise be performed by another laid off employee

Lay off notices that have already been sent out at some campuses (e.g. UCI & UCD) will be rescinded.

Employees who have elected to participate in the START Program during fiscal year 2009-10 shall not be covered by this Agreement.

If the employee terminates START during fiscal year 2009-10 before completing 12 months in the START program and receives a temporary layoff pursuant to this Agreement the total salary reduction for such employee shall not exceed the amount by which the employee's salary would have been reduced under this Agreement.

It is important that you put it in writing to your supervisor if you:

1) do not wish to use layoff days during the campus closure,

2) do not wish to have your pay cut in 12 month segments, but prefer it taken out all at once. These notices must be turned in before the first campus closure day.

Further messages will follow with the full details. Consult the CUE website for additional updates.

In Solidarity,

CUE Bargaining Team

Tel: 510-845-2221
Fax: 510-845-7744
E-mail: clericals@cueunion.org

CUE Bargaining Team:
Kristi Rank, UCSB
Eve Kent, UCR
Stephanie Dorton, UCB
Susan Ervin, UCLA
Dorthea Stewart, UCSD
Mary Higgins, UCSF
Dan Lewis, UCD
Helen Jefferson, LBNL
Anytra Henderson, LBNL
Dianna Sahhar, UCI
Linda Michelle Weinberger, UCI