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4/22/2008
Since November 2007, CUE has reviewed 17 University proposals to reclassify jobs currently performed by CUE workers. In all but one instance, those proposals included movement out of the CUE bargaining unit into the unrepresented, or 99, designation. CUE Local 10 reads and reviews every proposal. We talk with the affected worker to better understand the work currently being performed and the changes being proposed. In almost every instance of a proposed reclassification, the “new” work is in fact the same work being done at the time of reclassification and does not represent a change to what is considered bargaining unit work – that is, the continuing work is still a majority of administrative services (some call it clerical) and does not rise to the level required to move out of the CUE bargaining unit. The Union has now received written notice that all of the workers whose reclasses were rejected are getting the proposed wage increase anyway. In some instances, the raise is greater than the one originally stated on the reclassification proposal. CUE understands that in the case of the SAO proposals, the new title represented professional recognition that is important to those workers. CUE agrees that they are better classified as Student Advising Officers, but feels they should be retained in the union bargaining unit. We corresponded both with the Chancellor’s office and Human Resources to demand that those workers get the proposed raise while the Union and the University are engaged in the legal dispute about the positions themselves. We’re happy to report they agreed with us and have awarded those workers a wage increase. Winning wage increases is a major victory for CUE workers. Using reclassification into the unrepresented unit is a way for the University to weaken our union, but together and armed with factual information, we can resist that and still win wage increases.
In Solidarity, |