UC and UPTE continued negotiations June 21-22, 2017 for a new contract covering more than 8,000 research support and technical staff.

This was the second bargaining session, and both sides continued to make progress by exchanging proposals on various contract provisions. The university has presented the majority of its proposals — including on key topics such as health benefits and retirement benefits — in an effort to move negotiations along efficiently.

UC’s proposals for research support and technical employees include:

  • Health benefits: Excellent health care at the same rates other UC employees pay. A typical research support and technical employee would pay $32 a month for themselves and their children. By contrast, the average American worker pays over $5,200 per year for less generous health benefits — just for themselves. 
  • Retirement benefits:
    • Current employees will see no change in their retirement benefits.
    • Future employees hired after a new contract is ratified will have a choice between a traditional pension and a 401(k)-style plan. Both options provide valuable retirement income and future employees can choose based on their needs and preferences, including their age, how long they plan to work at UC and their personal investing style.
    • For more details, please see our fact sheet

The next bargaining session is July 13-14 at UC Santa Cruz.

Access bargaining updates at ucal.us/researchstaff and ucal.us/technicalstaff.