Initial Bargaining Demands
With the current attacks on higher education and many of our fundamental rights, RPSPs have an urgent opportunity in this first contract campaign to strengthen our jobs and the University of California as a whole.
Initial Bargaining Demands (IBDs) represent the broad priorities of RPSPs, which the elected bargaining team drafted after thousands of conversations and surveys. IBDs are a high-level preview of the improvements to our jobs that we will campaign to win in a contract that will strengthen the university. During the bargaining process, our bargaining team will negotiate specific proposals and language that will codify the goals outlined in these IBDs.
We will ratify the IBDs through a vote of all RPSPs, and an overwhelming majority in support will show UC leadership that we are steadfast and unified in our pursuit of a strong contract that makes progress on the issues RPSPs face in the workplace.
Wages & Compensation
Increase compensation to recruit and retain a diverse, highly-qualified, and professional workforce at a world-class research institution, including implementing a step scale to ensure wages grow with experience and provide annual cost-of-living adjustments. Expand options for additional merit increases.
Job Security
Increase protections from furloughs and layoffs. Establish transparent standards for these processes. Provide bridge funding support to all RPSPs impacted by funding disruption, cancellations, or recissions. Strengthen support for international workers facing work authorization, status changes, or travel restrictions.
Work Modality
Establish enforceable protections for RPSPs with hybrid and remote work modalities. Ensure RPSPs are aware of hybrid and remote work arrangements. Establish guidelines to assess the viability of hybrid or remote work arrangements with clear pathways to a remote or hybrid modality.
Pathway to Career Development & Advancement
Develop transparent and equitable pathways and timelines for promotion and career advancement for all RPSPs. Create pathways for temporary and contract workers to convert to career appointments.
Workload Protection
Ensure job duties are clearly and collaboratively defined to protect against overwork and “job creep.” Align RPSP job descriptions and classification with actual duties and responsibilities. Create procedures and standards for compensation to address increasing workloads, expanding job responsibilities, and work beyond regular work hours.
Benefits
Ensure a dignified future for all RPSPs by improving retirement benefits. Improve affordability and access to healthcare, vision, and dental care for RPSPs and their dependents, regardless of geographic location. Protect RPSPs’ access to essential healthcare services, including gender-affirming care, birth control, and abortion. Provide RPSPs with affordable, accessible, and sustainable parking opportunities. Improve access and subsidies for public transportation.
Time Off & Leave Policies
Increase accrual of vacation and sick days. Expand and guarantee access to additional types of leave, such as bereavement, parental, and immigration leave. Provide leave to cover the cost of curtailment that is imposed on RPSPs.
Support for Families & Caregivers
Increase the length and funding support of parental leave. Permit flexible work schedules. Provide access to needed caregiver resources on-site and at UC childcare facilities. Provide clear, updated guidance on how to find high-quality, safe, and affordable child and elder care in their area and fund subsidies to ensure equal access for all RPSPs regardless of location.
Inclusive Work Environment
Ensure equity and inclusivity in the workplace by protecting RPSPs against harassment, abuse, bullying, and discrimination in all forms through a grievance procedure. Proactively reach out to and provide centralized resources for all RPSPs’ accessibility needs.
Grievance & Arbitration
Establish a fair and timely grievance procedure with access to neutral and binding arbitration.
Our Right to Free Speech, Privacy, and a Safe Workplace
Protect academic freedom by strengthening safeguards that allow staff to engage in political speech without fear of reprisal. Protect against the release of RPSPs’ personal identifiable data to external entities, and require a written notification and explanation of any such release or data breach. Require notification when police “mutual aid” is requested or ICE conducts investigations on UC property.
Workplace Safety & Materials
Ensure a safe and healthy work environment both on campus and for hybrid and remote work arrangements. Provide necessary personal protective and ergonomic equipment, accessible personal workspace on campus, and equivalent resources for hybrid and remote workspaces.
Union Rights
Provide mandatory union orientation for every new employee hired into the unit. Ensure all hiring departments receive training on union rights and protections guaranteed to RPSPs. Require UC to provide the Union with current and comprehensive information regarding RPSP employment. Provide release time for RPSPs to serve in union roles. Protect the right of RPSPs to organize in their workplace.
The Union reserves the right to submit proposals on additional bargaining topics not specifically listed and to modify any proposal.