The Service Unit (SX) is a systemwide bargaining unit of non-supervisory service workers who provide vital custodial, transportation and related basic support services throughout the UC system and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). The unit is represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Currently, the unit includes approximately 9,506* employees.
| Location | Headcount |
|---|---|
| Berkeley | 887 |
| Davis (Campus & Medical Center, ANR) | 1,396 |
| Irvine (Campus & Medical Center) | 809 |
| LBNL | 62 |
| Los Angeles (Campus, ASUCLA & Medical Center) | 2,488 |
| Merced | 106 |
| Office of the President | 5 |
| Riverside | 423 |
| San Diego (Campus & Medical Center) | 1,370 |
| San Francisco (Campus & Medical Center) | 1,040 |
| Santa Barbara | 461 |
| Santa Cruz |
459 |
| Total |
9,506 |
*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 SX Unit who are not members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) 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 AFSCME for conscientious objector (CO) status. Once AFSCME grants CO status, the employee may select one of the charities agreed to by AFSCME and UC, to which the fees will be paid (see chart below).
Employees who wish to apply for conscientious objector status should contact AFSCME directly.
AFSCME dues structure and fair share fees
(effective January 2018)
| Dues Structure / Values | Agency Fee Amount | CO Charities |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 % of retirement gross / $120 | 2.0 % of retirement gross / $120 | United Way, Alliance for the Mentally Ill; and NAACP Fund for Defense & Education. |