Pension Bargaining Update #5 (2007)

Pension Bargaining Update #5

On January 11, 2007 the UC Union Coalition Bargaining Team (UCUC) met with the University, this time at UCLA, regarding UC’s proposed Paycuts for Pensions plan.

Union Coalition Supports UPTE HX Workers

While bargaining was taking place, thousands of UC Medical Center workers wore stickers and attended rallies in support of UPTE’s HX workers. HX workers, currently in separate contract negotiations with UC, have been asked to waive many of their their bargaining rights on pension and health care for five years.

After a noontime rally at UCLA, HX and other UCLA workers joined the system-wide Union Coalition pension bargaining, demanding a voice in pensions and health care.

“It is outrageous that UC would ask us to waive our rights to bargain, just as they are trying to pass pension costs and health care premiums on to employees”, said Wendi Felson, a Clinical Lab Scientist at UCSF/ San Francisco General Hospital. “HX workers know we need to stand side by side with our Coalition coworkers to push back UC’s paycuts!”

Coalition Actuary Makes Presentation at Bargaining

At negotiations, Union Coalition actuary David Venuti explained why it is crucial for the University to answer the Coalition’s information requests in order that we can evaluate the University’s proposals and develop our own.

Even the University’s own actuary, Segal and Associates, has supported the Coalition’s decision to retain an actuary to evaluate UC’s proposals. In a letter dated August 8, 2006, Segal states, “If we were advising the Union[s] Coalition, we would respectfully suggest they direct their advisors to develop an analysis that substantively addresses the need to restart contributions to UCRP, and the Regents’ policy for doing so.”

Venuti also stressed that the actuarial analysis UC asked Segal to perform had serious omissions, and that substantially smaller pension funds routinely perform MUCH deeper analysis, especially prior to any change in policy.

Our next bargaining session will take place on the UC Berkeley campus on January 30 and 31. For more information, call your local union office!