Brandy Coats
Brandy Coats

According to deals struck between the UC and various unions, wages for university workers are slated to increase.

The University of California announced that it had reached deals with multiple labor groups in December, ending months and even years of negotiations between all parties.

In a press release, the UC announced it had struck a contract deal with the American Federation of Teachers, which will cover more than 3,000 UC lecturers. The two-year contract, which was tentatively agreed upon on Dec. 12, 2013, will provide a 3.5 percent wage increase, continues retirement benefits and a $135 increase in funding for professional development per full-time equivalent lecturer each year.

“Our lecturers play a key role in our instructional mission, and we are delighted to have this agreement in place,” said Dwaine B. Duckett, UC Vice President of Human Resources, after the deal.

Three days later, the UC also announced an additional agreement with two labor groups who are both represented by the University Professional and Technical Employees union (UPTE-CWA). The first: a deal with health care employees. The contract will include wage increases for medical care workers and student health center employees as well as changes in health and pension benefits.

The last deal made was an agreement that covers research and technical employees. That contract includes a 4 percent wage increase upon ratification, an additional 3 percent increase in Oct. 2014, 2015 and 2016, as well as a modified version of 2013’s pension tier system and revised eligibility rules for retiree health care.

“It has been a long road and we are pleased that we have been able to work through the issues and negotiate fair terms for our hard-working employees,” said Duckett in a press release.

Both of the latter contracts expire in 2017.

Since November, the UC has negotiated agreements with six labor groups. It previously struck deals with university librarians, nurses and police officers.