The Research Support Professionals Unit (RX) is a systemwide bargaining unit of non-supervisory research support professionals who provide highly specialized and complex scientific support for researchers throughout the UC system and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). The unit is represented by the University Professional and Technical Employees union (UPTE). Currently, the unit includes approximately 5,097* employees.
An approximate breakdown of the number of Research Support Professionals at each location is as follows:
| Location | Headcount |
|---|---|
| Berkeley | 268 |
| Davis (Campus & Med Center) | 803 |
| Irvine (Campus & Med Center) | 208 |
| LBNL | 169 |
| Los Angeles (Campus & Med Center) | 1,013 |
| Merced | 9 |
| Riverside | 89 |
| San Diego (Campus & Medical Center) | 1,217 |
| San Francisco (Campus & Medical Center) | 1,202 |
| Santa Barbara | 71 |
| Santa Cruz | 48 |
| Total | 5,097 |
*FTP Data, April 2017
Dues/Agency Fee
The state Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act (HEERA) was amended in January 2000 to establish an "agency shop" at the University of California (HEERA §3583.5). By law, UC employees who are represented by a union but do not join and pay membership dues are required to pay a "fair share" fee through mandatory paycheck deductions. The deductions are paid to the union to help cover the union's costs for negotiations, contract administration, and related representational activities.
Fair share fees must be paid by all employees in the RX Unit who are not members of the University Professional and Technical Employees union (UPTE) whether or not they support the union. The only exception under the law is for an employee "who is a member of a bona fide religion, body or sect that has historically held conscientious objections to joining or financially supporting public employee organizations." (HEERA §3584). Employees may apply to UPTE for conscientious objector (CO) status. Once UPTE grants CO status, the employee may select one of the charities agreed to by UPTE and UC, to which the fees will be paid (see chart below).
Employees who wish to apply for conscientious objector status should contact UPTE directly.
UPTE dues structure and fair share fees
(effective January 2017)
| Dues Structure / Values | Agency Fee Amount | CO Charities |
|---|---|---|
|
1.3% of retirement gross / $75.00
LBNL: $65 cap |
1.3% of retirement gross / $75.00 LBNL: $65 cap |
Pediatric AIDS; Komen Foundation; Oxfam |