HR Update; October 14, 2011

In this Edition

UC Librarians’ Union Approves New Contract

On Oct. 10, 2011, the University of California announced that the American Federation of Teachers union ratified an agreement that provides merit increases for the university’s more than 350 librarians.

“We believe this is a fair proposal that rewards librarians for their dedication and hard work, while being mindful of the tough economic climate the university is facing,” said Peter Chester, labor relations contract negotiator.

Highlights of the agreement include:

Participation in the annual academic merit program for 2011–12, for which the librarians as academic employees will be eligible just as are all non-student academic employees. Increases would be effective July 1, 2011.
Participation in a one-time merit-based salary increase program for 2011–12 for non-represented faculty and staff that is tied to their performance evaluation. Increases for the librarians would take effect Oct. 1, 2011.

The university and the union reached a tentative agreement on Sept. 28. Negotiations began in June and were limited to 2011–12 wages under the terms of the current four-year contract, which runs through Sept. 30, 2012.

UC, AFSCME Reach Agreement on Wages and Benefits

On Oct. 10, 2011, the University of California announced that members of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees have ratified a contract covering more than 20,000 employees at UC campuses and medical centers.

UC and AFSCME reached a tentative agreement on Sept. 22, 2011. Union members voted Oct. 5–7 to ratify the agreement.

Negotiations were limited to a select number of issues tied to the current contracts, which will expire in about a year. Key topics included wages, healthcare benefits, and contributions to the UC Retirement Plan.

“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with AFSCME,” said Dwaine Duckett, vice president of human resources. “Moving forward, we hope we can find ways for UC and the union to join forces and work together on issues that are of mutual interest.”

Employees covered under the contracts include patient care staff, such as hospital assistants and hospital laboratory technicians; and service workers, such as custodians and mail processors.

Highlights of the agreements include:

Wages

Patient care employees will receive a 3 percent wage increase for the 2010–11 year, which will go into effect Nov. 1, 2011, with a lump sum payment representing the increase back to January 2011; and a 3 percent increase for the 2011-12 year, effective Jan. 1, 2012.
Service employees will receive a 3 percent wage increase for the 2010–11 year, which will go into effect Nov. 1, 2011, with a lump sum payment that represents October 2011 wages; and a 3 percent increase for 2011–-12, effective Oct. 1, 2012.
Scheduled step increases will be given to eligible patient care and service employees on July 1, 2012. Service workers also will receive scheduled step increases on July 1, 2013, if they are eligible.
The minimum salary for service employees will be $13.70 an hour starting Nov. 1, 2011, and $14.42 an hour starting Oct. 1, 2012.

Healthcare benefits

Employees will continue to receive excellent healthcare benefits and will pay the same rates as the general UC employee population. They will pay 2011 rates for Health Net HMO effective Oct. 1, 2011, and pay 2012 rates for all plans in 2012.
UC will continue to pay the bulk of health insurance premium costs or roughly 87 percent on average.

Pension benefits

Employees will contribute to the UC Retirement Plan at the same rate as the general UC employee population. Contributions will be 3.5 percent of pay retroactive to July 1, 2011, and 5 percent of pay starting July 1, 2012.
UC is increasing its contributions as well. It began contributing 7 percent this year, up from 4 percent in the past. The university plans to increase that amount to 10 percent on July 1, 2012.

The current contract for patient care technical employees expires Sept. 30, 2012. The contract for service employees expires Jan. 31, 2013.

Holiday Schedule and Curtailment Period

This year, the holiday schedule incorporates the following dates:

Friday, November 11, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Monday, December 26th
Tuesday, December 27th
Friday, December 30th
Monday, January 2nd

Campus department heads may choose to close their departments for either the week of December 20th or December 27th based on operational needs. Any closure requires notice to those unions with affected employees. If you are considering a department closure, please contact your assigned Labor and Employee Relations Analyst. For closures that affect employees on an expired contract, which in this case is the Coalition of University Employees-Teamsters, Labor and Employee Relations will need as much notice as possible regarding whether a department intends to close in order to meet our obligations to bargain the effects of this management decision under the Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act (HEERA).

If a department is closed, employees will be allowed to take days off and charge them to accumulated vacation, compensatory time off, or leave without pay. In order to ensure continued paid leave status, employees who do not have sufficient vacation leave accrued may be advanced vacation leave in accordance with applicable policy and contracts.

For non-represented staff and employees in the Service (SX), Patient Care Technical (EX), Research and Support Professionals (RX), Technical Support Professionals (TX), Non-Academic Senate Lecturers (IX) and Professional Librarians (LX) bargaining units, the Office of the President has granted an exception to allow employees with insufficient vacation balances to use up to seven vacation days in advance of actual accrual to be used during a closure. For employees who take unpaid time during the closure, the exception further provides that employees continue to accrue sick and vacation leave credits for up to seven days.

Questions may be directed to your assigned Labor and Employee Relations Analyst.

UC Benefits Open Enrollment for 2012

For All Eligible Faculty and Staff

Starts: Monday, October 31, 8am
Ends: Tuesday, November 22, 5pm sharp!
“Make Informed Choices”

During Open Enrollment, you can:

Change medical or dental plans.
Enroll eligible family members in your medical, dental and vision plans.
Enroll or re-enroll in the Health or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts. Even if you are currently enrolled in these plans, you must re-enroll to participate in 2012.

Getting more Open Enrollment information:

Employees should expect to receive their Open Enrollment booklet at their home address the week of October 24th.
Open Enrollment website on At Your Service will also be “live” the week of October 24th.
Open Enrollment Help Desks will be held across UCSF locations beginning Tuesday, November 1st. A schedule of dates, times, and locations will be communicated once the schedule has been finalized.

Upcoming Development Classes

Most have no doubt just completed the performance evaluation process for the year and have identified an area or two to be addressed. A variety of courses will be offered in the upcoming weeks.

Supervisory

Gallup Manager Training
When: October 19, and 28, 11:30am–1:30pm
Where: Laurel Heights regents Room S-1
Cost: Free
This training will prepare managers to discuss survey results and develop action plans with their teams. This 1 to 2-hour class is essential and should be taken by anyone who managers or supervises others.

Log on to the UC Learning Center and type “communications skills” in the search box to register.

Delegating for Success & Accountability
When: Tuesday, October 18th, 8:30am–12:30pm
Where: Laurel Heights Regents Room S-1
Cost: $55

In this final course in the Performance Management series, participants practice a structured approach to delegation and the communication skills needed to transfer work and to build project commitment.

Log on to the UC Learning Center and type “delegating for success” in the search box to register.

Professional Skills

Influencing Without Authority Class
When: Monday, Oct 31, 1pm–5pm, Friday, December 16, 8am–12pm
Where: Laurel Heights Chancellor’s Room S-1
Cost: $160

Effectively exercising influence even when you may not have the formal authority to mandate action is a challenge many face. This course will develop your capability to assess and increase your influential power to accomplish your objectives. Successful professionals build networks of relationships with stakeholders and influencers; this course introduces the skills necessary to employ these interpersonal and leadership skills putting you in a position to manage the often complex relationship dynamics of the workplace.

Log on to the UC Learning Center and type “influencing” in the search box to register.

Project Management

Project Management Series
When: Various dates in October, November, & December
Location: Laurel Heights Regents Room S-1
Cost: $160 per session

This series augments the Project Management Basics class by providing more detail for those who manage more complex projects.

Session #1

Session #2

Session #3

Each session will feature numerous hands on, team-based exercises with sufficient time to practically apply the content to real-life UCSF projects.
Every student will receive a comprehensive, Excel-based project management toolkit featuring over 30 best practice templates.
Students will receive a certificate of completion from the Center for Project Management after successfully completing all three sessions in the series.

Log on to the UC Learning Center and type “project management” in the search box to register.

Free UC Retirement Readiness Education Programs for Faculty & Staff

Are you ready for retirement? Start to plan now - it’s never too early. Check the Retirement Readiness Workshop Schedules for new listings today!

Did You Know? You may attend a workshop at any UC campus. Just check the schedule for your preferred location and sign up online.

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

Schedule “The Features of UCRP” workshop for your department - click here
Read about The Future of UCRP

The UC Retirement Savings Programs: 403(b), 457(b) & Defined Contribution (DCP Plans)

Attend a Workshop at a location near you and make your reservation online - click here for the schedule
Arrange to have these workshops at a meeting in your department – click here
Focus on Your Future - Resources

Share Your Bright Ideas

Share your Bright Ideas! Do you have an idea that will change our campus for the better? The UCSF Medical Center, UCSF School of Medicine, and Office of Sustainability now have an online suggestion box for employees to submit ideas that will improve UCSF’s ability to run operations more safely, efficiently, and sustainably. Go to the Bright Ideas website to share, vote and comment on ideas.

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