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HR Update; January 30, 2009

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In this Edition

UC Reaches Tentative Contract Agreement with Service Employees’ Union

University of California officials announced on January 28, 2009 that UC reached a tentative agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees on a new, five-year labor contract for UC’s more than 8,000 service employees.

“We are very pleased to have reached what we believe is a fair agreement, and one that rewards our service workers for their continued hard work and dedication to the university,” said Shelley Nielsen, UC’s chief negotiator for the contract. “The university worked very hard throughout the process to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion, and ultimately compromises by both sides enabled us to reach an agreement.”

Once ratified by the union, the agreement will be effective from the date of ratification through Jan. 31, 2013, and full contract details will be available on the web.

Highlights of the tentative agreement include:

Wages: Over $64 million in total wage increases over the life of the contract, including 3 percent across-the-board wage increases in each year of the contract with an additional 1 percent across-the-board increase effective in July 2009, and increases in minimum hourly rates from $10.28 to $14.00 by the end of the contract. It is estimated that the average hourly pay of a UC service employee will increase from $14.35 to $18.39 over the life of the contract.

Benefits: The same excellent health and retirement benefits as other UC employees, at the same cost, with UC paying the vast majority of the benefits costs. Due to a special one-time subsidy UC is employing for its 2009 health benefits, UC employees including service employees have already seen lower premium increases than they otherwise would, with some employees seeing decreases in their net monthly medical insurance premiums (details at available online).

Retirement plan contributions: When contributions to the UC Retirement Plan resume, as with other employees, service employees will have their current contributions to the UC Defined Contribution Plan redirected to UCRP for the first year. As a result, UC employees will experience no decrease in their net take-home pay due to the initial reinstatement of UCRP contributions.
For more information about these negotiations, visit the At Your Service website.

For more news and information about the University of California, please visit: www.universityofcalifornia.edu

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UC Reaches Tentative Contract Agreement with Nurses’ Union

University of California officials today (Jan. 30) announced that late last night UC reached a tentative agreement with the California Nurses Association for a contract covering UC’s more than 10,000 nurses.

“UC is very proud of its tradition of providing outstanding patient care and our nurses play a vital role in the delivery of that care,” said Gayle Saxton, UC’s chief negotiator for the contract.  “This contract recognizes our nurses’ dedication and service to the public, and it also helps maintain our competitiveness in a very challenging market.”

Once ratified by the union, the agreement will be effective from the date of ratification through Sep. 30, 2010, with additional limited subject (“reopener”) negotiations beginning later this year, and full contract details will be available at http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/policies_employee_labor_relations/labor_relations.html

Highlights of the tentative agreement include:

Wages: Nurses will receive market-competitive increases at all locations, totaling more than $24 million in wage increases through September 30, 2009, including a two percent within-range step increase in July 2009.  Wages for medical center nurses are supported by hospital revenues, not state funds.

Benefits: Nurses will receive the same excellent health and retirement benefits as other UC employees, at the same cost, with UC paying the vast majority of the benefits costs. Due to a special one-time subsidy UC is employing for its 2009 health benefits, UC employees including nurses will see lower premium increases than they otherwise would, with some nurses seeing decreases in their net monthly medical insurance premiums (details at http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/news/health/0810_health_rates.html).

Retirement plan contributions: Guaranteed bargaining concerning the resumption of contributions to the UC Retirement Plan before any nurse’s contributions are required.

Staffing: UC will continue to include meals and breaks when assessing staffing needs.

For more information about these negotiations, go to: www.ucnurses.com/

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Enforcing the Smoke-Free Policy

UCSF went completely smoke-free on November 20, 2008 and it is each employee’s responsibility to communicate and ensure compliance with the new policy. In an effort to assist in policy compliance, informational cards were developed to pass out to those observed smoking in prohibited areas.  These informational cards are available from information desks and greeters at Mt. Zion and Parnassus, as well as campus security stations.  Below are suggestions of what to say if you encounter someone smoking on campus:

All visitors, patients and employees at UCSF should be treated with respect. Approach those smoking in a kind fashion and not in an aggressive or demeaning manner.  It is important for everyone to realize that by making the campus smoke-free, a healthier environment is being created for all. Information on “no smoking” resources and the policy and can be found here.

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UC Retirement Readiness Education Programs

Are you ready for retirement?  Start to plan now-it’s never too early.

Please pass this on to your colleagues, circulate invitations, post the actual scheduled workshops happening near your location, or otherwise re-broadcast these weekly reminders about our valuable (FREE) education programs for faculty and staff.  Bring your lunch; your questions; your spouse/partner.

Usually there can be at least one (or more) workshop(s) per week scheduled at various UCSF locations around town. For more details and listings for upcoming scheduled presentations, please refer to our Workshops and Presentations Schedules menus found at our local UCSF HR/Benefits website.

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UCSF Weekly Walking Program Expanding to Laurel Heights/Mt. Zion

Start the New Year with a weekly lunchtime walk led by a UCSF Fitness & Recreation instructor. Walks are open to individuals of all abilities and began Wednesday January 21st, 2009. They are a great opportunity to improve fitness level and get to know other walkers at your work location.

For further information, contact Lauren Cox by email at

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Proposal to Restart UCRP Contributions as of 2010

UC Regents will consider a plan to set the employee and employer contribution rates to the UC Retirement Plan at their February 5th meeting. Following a “contribution holiday” of almost 20 years, under the proposal, employee and employer contributions would begin April 15, 2010.  Please take a few moments to read this news item at the At Your Service Website.

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