Recently, UC submitted a strong economic proposal to the United Auto Workers union as part of a multi-year contract to ensure fair pay for Academic Student Employees (Teaching Assistants/Associates/Fellows, Readers, and Tutors). Tentative Agreements have been reached on Union Access and Rights, Union Security, and a Respectful Workplace Environment.

Highlights of the proposal include:

Increased Wages:

• UC has offered a salary scale increase of 7% for all salaried ASEs in year one of the contract, with a 3% increase in each subsequent year.
• UC's offer includes an hourly wage increase of $1.50 per hour for all hourly ASEs (approximately 5% -8% increases) in year one of the contract and a $1.00 hourly rate increase (approximately 3%-5% increase) in each subsequent contract year.

Quality benefits and family support: 

• UC is offering to increase childcare reimbursement by $750 per academic year, with an additional increase in childcare reimbursement for those eligible ASEs working during a summer session.
• As part of the economic package, paid pregnancy leave will increase to eight weeks and paid personal medical leave/baby bonding/care for family members will be five weeks.
• The University has proposed to increase the amount of campus fee remission for qualified ASE appointments from $100 per quarter and $150 per semester to cover 100% of campus fees.  This represents an increase of over $1,000 per year on certain campuses. This is in addition to the 100% remission of tuition, student services fees, and healthcare already provided to qualified ASE appointments.

NEXT BARGAINING SESSION: UC and the UAW are scheduled to meet again this week, and UC remains committed to reaching an agreement as soon as possible.

We will continue to keep you updated on our progress, and as always, thank you for your many contributions to our instructional mission and the UC community.