UC Berkeley reaches labor agreement on contract workers

By Tom Lochner

BERKELEY — UC Berkeley, in what one of its unions hailed as a “historic victory for contract workers,” has agreed to offer direct employment to all regular night shift and athletics custodians currently working at the institution through private contractors, the university announced Friday.

As part of the agreement, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 will end its “speakers boycott,” the university said. Under the boycott, AFSCME objected to speakers with engagements at the campus.

“This agreement wouldn’t be possible without the tireless commitment of the contractor committee, support of students, AFSCME members, legislators and speakers who committed to honor the boycott — thank you!” the union said in a statement Friday. “Si Se Puede!”

The union said 93 custodial and parking workers fall under the agreement.

The university said it will offer to hire all campus stack parking attendants currently employed through LAZ Parking.

“While the campus has been working on a plan to in-source the custodial night shift since last summer, this agreement builds on the plan and streamlines the hiring process,” the university stated. “Under the agreement, the campus will make job offers to all contract custodians and parking attendants within 30 days. The campus is also offering to hire all temporary custodians into full-time positions at UC Berkeley.”

For the full article, click on the link below.
[Source]: Contra Costa Times