The University of California is working diligently to return to the bargaining table with the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) union to continue negotiating a new contract covering more than 8,000 research and technical employees.

The university and union are scheduled to meet Aug. 12, 2013, the earliest date UPTE said its bargaining team is available.

UC had sought to convene earlier, originally proposing July bargaining dates and offering to help the union's bargaining team arrange time off work with their supervisors to meet. UC has been bargaining with UPTE since December 2012 and the last bargaining session was June 3-6, 2013.

The university believes strongly that the sooner the two sides return to the table, the sooner differences can be resolved and an agreement finalized. The most recent contracts expired June 30, 2013.

UC plans to discuss key issues, including a total compensation package, at the next bargaining session.

To date, the university has presented fair terms for a new contract including:

  • Quality health benefits for employees and their families.
  • Excellent retiree health and traditional pension benefits that few public and private employers nationwide offer.
  • Reasonable pension reform designed to preserve the long-term viability of the retirement programs, so that UC can continue providing quality benefits to all employees. Eight other unions representing 14 bargaining units have already agreed to these pension reforms, which also apply to non-represented faculty and staff.
  • Good working conditions in a fulfilling environment.

In addition, the university has a proven track record of fairly compensating employees for their service. In addition to excellent benefits, UPTE members received wage increases in the past, including up to 5 percent increases in each of the past two years, at a time when other UC employees received less or no increases.

The university values the skill of research and technical employees across the system, and is committed to reaching a fair and financially sustainable contract.