UC Offers AFSCME Contract Resolution Path with New Proposals
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The University of California presented American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union leadership yesterday with a comprehensive contract supposal designed to bring negotiations to a close and provide long-needed certainty, stability, and relief for UC’s employees.
Through a combination of across-the-board wage and step increases, eligible employees would receive:
- 7% increase in 2026
- 6% increase in 2027
- 5.5% increase in 2028
When compounded and including the 5% raise you already received in 2025, these increases would result in total pay growth of nearly 26%, depending on step eligibility. The University’s offer also includes $1,000 longevity payments for employees with 20 years of service.
To address rising health care costs, UC is also offering premium reductions that lower monthly costs for Blue & Gold and Kaiser medical insurance plans, plus a premium cap on increases for employees enrolled in the Blue and Gold medical plan, starting in 2027. This is in addition to the premium subsidies you have already received in 2025 and 2026.
Since January 2024, UC has negotiated in good faith, advancing proposals that address the union’s stated priorities and are designed to bring resolution and stability for you and your families. In recent months, UC has worked intensively to accelerate bargaining across the system and has successfully reached agreements with other labor partners, including CNA and UPTE, reflecting a shared commitment to fair outcomes and sustainable improvements in compensation and health care.
UC’s offer is intended to resolve outstanding issues and allow employees like you to focus on work and lives with confidence in their pay, benefits, and future. If accepted, the agreement would provide stability and certainty through June 30, 2029. A fact sheet about the contract offer can be found here.
Learn how contracts are bargained on UCnet.
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