HR Update; May 16, 2008

In this Edition

Update on Negotiations between UC and AFSCME on New Contract for Service Employees

UC met with AFSCME from May 7 - 9 to continue bargaining over a new contract for service employees. At the conclusion of the bargaining session the University indicated it had further movement to make toward agreement and requested additional bargaining dates. The Union said it would respond to the University’s request following a meeting with its Executive Board on Monday, May 12. Yesterday, AFSCME issued a letter informing UC of its intent to take the University’s last proposal to its membership. It has since come to the attention of the University that the Union is scheduling strike votes at UC facilities across the state.

UC has bargained with AFSCME in good faith and has offered multiple proposals that would provide wage increases and guarantee service employees the same high quality benefits as other UC employees.

UC offers would have provided the following:

WAGES: Effective October 2008, new minimum rate of $10.74/hour for southern locations and $11.50 for most northern locations, in addition to local equity proposals amounting to $2.6 million. The University has also proposed to reopen wages once the State budget is passed. The total cost of the University’s wage offer amounts to at least $3.1 million in year one;
HOURS OF WORK: UC has proposed to maintain overtime pay after 40 hours in a work week, consistent with CSU and the State;
DEVELOPMENT: Professional development and educational leave increased to 40 hours;
HEALTH CARE BENEFITS: The same high quality health benefit plans offered to all other UC employees at the same cost. UC’s last proposal outlined conditions for possible reopeners on benefits as well;
RETIREMENT: UC employees have not had to contribute toward the cost of their pension benefits - considered the gold standard by many - for over 17 years due in part to strong investment performance. UC’s last proposal outlined conditions for possible reopeners on retirement as well;

The University had hoped to pass additional proposals with movement on economic articles. We are disappointed that union leaders appear intent to call a strike vote. We want employees to become educated on UC’s many proposals.

Please contact your labor relations representative with specific questions or visit UCOP’s website for more information.

Update on Negotiations between UC and AFSCME on New Contract for Patient Care Employees

UC met with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees on Saturday, May 10 to continue post-fact-finding bargaining over a new contract for patient care technical employees. At the conclusion of the bargaining session, the union informed UC that the parties did not have an agreement and that it would take the university’s latest proposal back to union members. It has since come to the attention of the University that the union is scheduling strike votes at UC facilities across the state.

UC has bargained in good faith and has made a number of package proposals in the course of bargaining that would provide wage increases and guarantee patient care technical employees the same high quality benefits as other UC employees. The union has repeatedly rejected the university’s proposals.

One of the barriers standing in the way of an agreement is the issue of wages and the union’s demand for salary increases, including a state wide minimum rate of $14.50/hour. The university has offered wage increases of between 4-15% to bring patient care technical employee salaries to market competitive levels, which have been rejected by AFSCME.

UC has offered:

WAGES: In year one alone, increases between 4-15% to bring patient care technical employee salaries to market competitive levels, movement to a step-based pay structure based on UC experience within a classification;
HOURS OF WORK: Beginning October 1, 2009, UC has proposed to pay time and a half after shift for most employees and double time after 12 hours.
HEALTH CARE BENEFITS: The University of California has offered the same health benefit plans to patient care technical employees that are offered to all other UC employees, at the same cost. The package proposal outlines conditions for possible reopeners on benefits;
RETIREMENT: UC employees have not had to contribute toward the cost of their pension benefits - considered the gold standard by many - for over 17 years due, in part, to strong investment performance. While contributions from both UC and employees will ultimately be needed to keep UC’s pension plan strong, UC has guaranteed there will be no contributions by employees until September 30, 2008;
FLEXIBLE PAID TIME OFF: UC has proposed the implementation of a Paid Time Off (PTO) program where it exists for other employees (UCSFMC, UCDHS, UCLAMC and UCIMC). In general, PTO plans at UC provide for half of the traditional sick leave accruals (6 days) to be placed into the PTO bank with regular accruals for vacation (dependent upon years of service) while the other half are placed in an extended sick leave bank.
PARKING: UC has proposed that parking rate caps of between $0 and $16 per month be put into place for 2008, 2009 and 2010.

The university’s proposals have been designed in order to reach compromise with the union and to properly compensate UC employees.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: www.UCPatientCareTechs.com

UCSF Wellness Promotion - Tuesday May 20th

We invite you to come to learn about UCSF’s new walking program, a new weekly Farmer’s Market, the Staywell Health Management Program, Kaiser Permanente’s Wellness Program and much more!

10:00 am - 12:15 pm
- Parnassus, Medical Sciences Building, lobby
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- Mission Bay, Mission Bay Community Center, the lobby of Fisher Atrium

Win a raffle prize!
(One winner will be chosen at each campus location and you must enter to win).

Personal Training Session
30 minute Massage

The UCSF Wellness Task Force is teaming up with StayWell Health Management, Kaiser Permanente Wellness, Student Health Services, and Campus Life Services to sponsor this event and promote campus wellness programs/resources to students, faculty and staff. Come find out more about what UCSF is doing to create a healthy campus culture!

Reminder - Upcoming Flexible Spending Accounts Deadline

Employees participating in the Health Care Reimbursement Account and/or Dependent Care Account have until June 15th, 2008, to submit claims for the plan year 2007 expenses Claims must be postmarked by the June 15th deadline.

For the Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA) receipts to validate spending card expenses must also be submitted by June 15th. Now is the time to carefully review your statements to determine if all of your purchases have been validated. If you do not have the requested receipts you may submit receipts for other eligible expenses incurred during 2007, or the grace period, or you may reimburse your HCRA by sending a check to SHPS for any transactions you are unable to validate.

Employees can also contact SHPS directly (1-800-800-678-6684, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time) if they have any questions about their account or need specific information about they type of documentation required to validate a particular expense.

As a reminder, the requirement to validate expenses is mandated by the IRS. In the event that you do not provide receipts or reimburse your HCRA for your unvalidated purchases, the amount not validated will be classified as taxable income and the University must reissue your 2007, W-2.

Coming Events

1. Transgender Panel
Transgender Issues in the Workplace: A Special Presentation for UCSF Managers and Supervisors

Wednesday, May 21 from 12 noon to 1:30 pm
Parnassus Room N225

All UCSF managers and supervisors and interested others are invited to attend an event designed to provide an overview of what transgender people experience in the workplace: the gifts they bring, the challenges they face, and the support they deserve. We are very lucky to include in this event acclaimed transgender workplace expert, Jamison Green.

2. Mock Mediation
Thursday May 29, from 12 noon to 1:30 pm
Parnassus, Room N217

The Mock Characters: A virtual analyst with 17 years experience and her supervisor who is, you guessed it, new to the department.

The Mock Problem: Hidden agendas, poor communication and unmatched expectations cause discomfort, illness and possible termination. Will our Analyst adjust her “attitude?” Will her supervisor come to terms with a different style? Can two adults have a civilized discussion and find a win-win solution?

Find out at this live event, sure to be instructive and possibly even uncomfortably fun.

3. Working With Integrity: Ethics for the UCSF Community

Identify and assess ethical situations based on UC and UCSF ethical standards and values. Ethical decision-making requires more than a belief in the importance of ethics. It also requires ethical sensitivity to implications of choices, the ability to evaluate complex, ambiguous and incomplete facts, and the skill to implement ethical decisions effectively. Every University employee is accountable for demonstrating ethical conduct. Attendees will participate in activities and evaluate practical examples based on UC policies. Facilitated by David Bell, Associate Mediation and Communications Officer for the UCSF Work~Life Resource Center and Scott Fong, Cash and Controls Manager, Controllers Office.

UC Retirement Readiness Education Programs

Are you ready for retirement? Are your ducks all in a row? Start to plan now-it’s never too early.

Please pass this on to your colleagues, circulate invitations, post the actual schedules, 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…

UC Retirement Plan (UCRP)-UC’s Defined Benefit Plan

“The Features of UCRP”

Coming Again Soon

Refer to these schedules for details and future workshops
The Future of UCRP

UC Reitrirement Savings Plan—the 403(b), 457(b) and DC Plans

“Enrolling in Your UC Retirement Savings Program”
- May 20, Mission Bay, Gen - S271, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
- May 21, Mount Zion, C - 126, 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- May 22, Parnassus, HSW - 303, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
“Determining Your Right Investment Strategy”

May 20, Mission Bay, Gen - S271, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
May 21, Mount Zion, C - 126, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
May 22, Parnassus, HSW - 303, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

“Achieving a Sound Retirement”

May 20, Mission Bay, Gen - S271, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
May 21, Mount Zion, C - 126, 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

“Understand the How-to’s of Fidelity’s NetBenefits Website”

May 22, Parnassus, HSW - 303, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Refer to these schedules for details and future workshops
Arrange to have these workshops for faculty/staff in your department
Focus on Your Future!

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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