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UC BEGINS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH AFSCME FOR PATIENT CARE TECHNICAL EMPLOYEES
UC began negotiations with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees on Thursday (Aug. 2) over a new employment contract for the more than 11,000 patient care technical employees who work in UC's medical and health care facilities. The University will make every effort to ensure a productive, professional, solution-oriented relationship between UC and AFSCME throughout the bargaining process.
UC GOALS
The University bases its bargaining positions on UC's commitment to providing high quality health care services in a culture that promotes patient safety. The University's bargaining positions also reflect UC's ongoing desire to be an employer of choice for all employees, including hospital assistants, vocational nurses, radiology technicians, hospital lab technicians, surgery technicians, patient billers, admitting workers, and other members of the patient care technical bargaining unit.
UC's major goals for this year's negotiations include:
- Preserve UC's ability to provide excellent, cost effective health care services to communities throughout California
- Develop an attractive total compensation package in order to retain and attract talented, well-qualified patient care technical employees to UC
- Continue to provide health care and retirement benefits to employees at the same costs as they are provided to other UC employees.
- Present UC patient care technical employees with a choice between the current sick/vacation plans and a new plan that offers increased flexibility
- Reach a comprehensive and mutually beneficial multi-year agreement through good faith negotiations prior to the expiration of the current contract
IMPORTANCE OF PATIENT CARE TECHNICAL EMPLOYEES - PARTICIPATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF ISSUES
The agreements made between UC and AFSCME will impact patient care technical employees directly. Therefore, it's very important that employees educate themselves about both parties' proposals and stay informed throughout the process. For employees that are new to UC or the collective bargaining process, it's especially important to understand how the negotiation process works; the rights and responsibilities of participants; and the mutual obligation of both parties to honor the process and bargain in good faith. As one of many sources of information, patient care technical employees can learn about and follow what's occurring in bargaining by visiting the University's web site. The web site also contains valuable background information about the collective bargaining process, and The Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act (HEERA), the law that governs contract negotiations and sets forth the obligations and responsibilities for participants, including employees.
UC'S COMMITMENT TO FAIR NEGOTIATIONS AND RESOLVING DISPUTES
UC remains fully committed to conducting fair, respectful, efficient negotiations. There may be differences of opinion expressed by each of the parties during the contract negation process. UC supports that process and remains committed to utilizing the bargaining table as the proper place to resolve those differences of opinion and work constructively toward win-win solutions.