Our K4 Skilled Trades Bargaining Team met with UCLA April 20 and 21 and were given an initial economic proposal by UCLA that doesn’t come close to acknowledging the value K4 Skilled Trades workers provide to the university.
We were told by management that although they respect our bargaining unit, UCLA is facing a $220 million deficit and they hope to come to an agreement that takes that deficit into account. Management proposed a five-year agreement with raises of 3%, 2%, 2%, 2%, and 2% at a time where inflation and gas prices make it much more expensive to come to work.
Our Bargaining Team will not allow UCLA management to pass the consequences of their own mismanagement of their billions of dollars of income and funding onto workers. Skilled Trades workers come to work and keep the campus and medical facilities safe and in good working order every day. We’ve done our part. It’s management’s job to run their facilities within their budget.
“If UCLA cannot manage its money properly, they should stop new construction, management raises, and other optional cost increases. Labor costs are not optional and fair raises that keep up with the cost of living in the area where we work is part of having a labor force!”
Rahsonn McGlothen
UCLA K4 Bargaining Team Member
UCLA’s initial proposal for parking prices also does not address member concerns around affordability, laying out a capped increase of $15 per month and an additional 10% city tax. For example, a yellow parking pass that costs $100 per month + $15 increase per month + $10 city tax = $125 total per month, a 25% increase. That would be $300 more per year in this example, an amount few Skilled Trades workers can afford.
Management also proposed keeping Health Insurance and Benefits status quo, leaving our members again at the mercy of management with respect to increases in healthcare premiums.
Our Bargaining Team’s counter was firm on fair across-the-board raises, affordable parking, and insurance rates that allow for more economic stability by reigning in runaway increases to premiums.
Both parties were able to agree on working toward improving promotions and transfers (Article 11 and Appendix N) within the bargaining unit.
Articles proposed by Teamsters:
- Article 45: Wages
- Appendix B: Equity Review committee side letter
Articles proposed by UCLA:
- Article 11: Promotion & Transfer (Current Contract Language/CCL)
- Article 12: Hours of Work (CCL)
- Article 15: Differentials (CCL)
- Article 33: Parking
- Article 36: Insurance & Retirement Benefits (CCL)
- Article 45: Wages
- Article 46: Duration
- Appendix B: Equity Review Committee side letter
- Appendix K: Parking rates
- Appendix L: New Classifications/Wages (deletion)
- Appendix N: Promotion & Transfer side letter
- Appendix O: Equity Increases (deletion)
Tentative Agreements
- Article 11: Promotion & Transfer
- Appendix N: Promotion & Transfer side letter
