HR Update; October 6, 2006
RSSIn this Edition
- UC reaches agreement with union on labor contract for university nurses
- Benefits Open Enrollment (OE) for Faculty and Staff 2007
- Retirement, Savings, and Health & Welfare Education Programs
- UCSF Celebrates October as Work and Family Month
UC reaches agreement with union on labor contract for university nurses
IMPORTANT Contact information for UC nurses:
Hotline number: (800) 418-9852 (download Hotline poster for your workarea).
University of California officials today (Oct. 5) announced they have reached a tentative agreement with the California Nurses Association regarding a labor contract for the more than 8,500 nurses who work in UC medical and student health facilities.
Negotiations first began in April and recently involved the outside assistance of a neutral, state-appointed mediator. Union officials informed the university they had accepted a compromise offer made by the university during the fact-finding process.
“This is good news for our nurses, our patients, and the many communities we serve throughout the state,” said Howard Pripas, UC executive director for labor relations. “Our nurses play a vital role in the delivery of excellent health care that UC is known for, and they deserve a good contract that both reflects and rewards the quality of their work.”
These limited-subject negotiations involved four topics: wages, health benefits, retiree health benefits and issues related to rest periods. Highlights of the agreement reached on these four issues are as follows:
- Wages: UC’s objective was to keep nurse salaries competitive at all five medical centers and nurses will receive salary increases of between five and nine percent generally under the new agreement;
- Health benefits: Nurses will continue to be part of the UC health care program, receiving the same benefits offered to all other UC employees;
- Retiree health benefits: The UC and the nurse union agreed that no change would be made to the benefits of current retirees through June 30, 2007;
- Rest periods: Compensation provided to a nurse if UC is unable to accommodate a requested break.
The terms of the agreement will be in effect through the remainder of the existing larger contract between the parties, which is set to expire June 30, 2007. Negotiations on a new comprehensive contract may begin as early as April of 2007.
An unfair labor practice filed by UC against the union in June for bad-faith bargaining will be withdrawn upon the union’s ratification of the tentative agreement.
The following advisory, which clarifies that a recent NLRB ruling regarding nurses does not impact UC, has been released to the media:
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2006/oct06.html
Benefits Open Enrollment (OE) for Faculty and Staff 2007—
News Flash!
When: November 1st - 21st
Where: At Your Service
- 2007 employee monthly medical plan rates are now available on At Your Service website
- Salary bands will be adjusted upward for 2007
- No changes to medical plan co-pays or deductibles
- UC will continue to pay the full monthly premium for dental and vision coverage
- New Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA) debit card being introduced
- Current HCRA and/or DCRA members need to re-enroll each year if continued participation is desired
- Start planning for Open Enrollment 2007 Now!
Read more at UCOP’s website: http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/news/general/employee_communications.html
HR Update Open Enrollment Announcement Archive: /index.php/hrupdate/article/1618/#1
Retirement, Savings, and Health & Welfare Education Programs
Please tell 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. Here is the listing for next week:
- The Features of the UC Retirement Plan (UCRP)
- Refer to this schedule for details and future workshops
- UC Retirement Savings Programs-the DC, 403(b), and 457(b) Plans
- Finding the Right Investment Strategy
- October 10, 2006: Parnassus, City Lights Conf Room, Millberry Union, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
- Finding the Right Investment Strategy
- Refer to this schedule for details and future workshops
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.
UCSF Celebrates October as Work and Family Month
The Work~Life Resource Center and our collaborative partners are celebrating October as Work and Family Month at UCSF. A diverse calendar of events includes programs in the areas of Caring for Loved Ones; Health & Wellness; Family Matters, Leadership and Safety. Of particular interest for the week of October 9, is a presentation entitled “Creating Healthy Boundaries for the Workplace and Family” given by Louis Choquette, Psy.D. from our Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP). A pdf flyer for this program is attached, as well as a pdf for the full month’s calendar.
For more information about Work and Family Month visit: http://www.ucsf.edu/wrklife
Or contact David Bell at , phone 514-3226.
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