After seven months of unfruitful contract negotiations between
the University of California and the American Federation of State,
County and Municipal Employees, the union has asked for help.
AFSCME, which represents 7,300 UC service workers,
“declared impasse and are requesting a state mediator to help
them reach a fair contract,” according to an AFSCME press
release.
The mediator met with both sides Monday in Oakland, and both
must approve for the third party to be allowed at the bargaining
table.
In state negotiations, if both sides have been unable to agree
for an extended period of time, either party is allowed to call
upon the California Public Employment Relations Board to appoint a
mediator.
AFSCME and the UC have met 24 times about the most recent
contract, and no progress has been made.
“What it comes down to is there are various issues we are
not agreeing whatsoever on, some various basic issues like money,
parking, training, seniority,” said Seth Cohen, an AFSCME
organizer.
The UC could not be reached for comment for this story, but they
have previously said that they are eager to settle contract
disputes as soon as possible.
The UC cited budget cuts in November as the reason they are not
able to grant AFSCME their requests.
AFSCME workers have been struggling during this contract renewal
period as they continue to receive salaries specified in their old
contracts.
“I don’t feel discouraged. I feel disappointed
because I think that we work very hard and what we are asking for
is very fair,” said Mirna Martinez, an Associated Students of
UCLA food service worker for five years, through a translator.
“The cost of living is very high right now, and the salary
that we earn is not sufficient to support our families,” she
said.
The AFSCME workers believe that they are not being treated
fairly, as they are integral to the university’s operation of
medical hospitals, residence halls and dining areas.
“In our opinion, the university is extremely
short-sighted, and they are not investing in their staff
whatsoever,” Cohen said. “They are not guaranteeing
money for the next three years. Even with the governor’s
compact, they refused to put any real money on the
table.”
The governor’s budget compact was introduced between the
UC and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger earlier this month, and would
allow for regular pay raises for UC workers if it is passed by the
Legislature.
Through the contract negotiations, AFSCME is looking to get
higher pay for its workers, and they hope the state mediator will
ensure a resolution happens soon.
Martinez said the only increases workers have seen lately is in
their workload.
“We work really hard, and the raise we have gotten is a
raise in the amount of work we do,” she said.