Dear colleague,
I want to update you on negotiations between UC and the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) union.
Business technology support analysts (BTSAs) added to UPTE
As you are likely aware, UPTE petitioned to have the BTSA I, II, and III title codes added to the TX bargaining unit. While the University objected to this accretion, the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) held that those BTSAs would be added to the unit in November 2016.
Negotiation status and current offer
Since December 2016, we have been negotiating with UPTE regarding the few terms and conditions of your employment that were not addressed in the most recent TX agreement, including wages, benefit coverage, bonus/award applicability and the application of sick/vacation leave policies versus Paid Time Off (PTO) policies. The University believes it has come to an understanding with UPTE on all but two items: (1) wage structure and placement of employees on that structure, and (2) whether sick/vacation leave policies will apply to all BTSAs vs. continuing to use PTO for those of you at medical centers with PTO policies.
As these negotiations have now gone on for almost a year and a half, the University is eager to bring them to a close. On March 20, 2018, the University presented UPTE with a “last, best and final” offer and requested that UPTE respond by April 3, 2018. The University’s offer provided for a step-based wage structure onto which all BTSAs in the TX unit would be placed, proposing that all BTSAs be placed on the step that is equal to or higher than their current wages. Under the University’s proposal, many BTSAs would see a slight wage increase. The University also proposed that the sick/vacation leave or PTO policies that currently apply to BTSAs would continue to apply to them.
Keep in mind that the University and UPTE are currently bargaining over a successor contract for the Technical Unit that includes the BTSAs. The University’s objective in these negotiations is to reach a multi-year agreement with UPTE that includes base-building salary increases designed to keep BTSA salaries competitive with the market.
Request for mediation
Because UPTE did not respond to the University’s offer, the University recently filed a declaration of impasse with PERB, requesting that PERB will agree that the parties need a mediator to help them resolve the negotiations. The University hopes that this move will assist the parties in bringing these negotiations to a close soon.
We will continue to update you as we move through this process.
Thank you for your commitment to UC. We appreciate all that you do to support the university’s mission.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your campus Human Resources Office.
Sincerely,
Dwaine B. Duckett
Vice President of Human Resources