News in Brief

With Strike Looming, UC Offers Union Wage Increase

Days after UC's research and technological employees announced intentions to strike universitywide, UC officials have offered the union a new wage proposal.

The package, announced Friday, is similar to the wage increases accepted two weeks ago by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, which represents over 7,000 UC service workers The agreement increases wages by ten percent over a three-year span.

But officials from the University Professional and Technical Employees said they were displeased with the figures and said the university still had little to show for a year's worth of negotiating.

"It shows us just how serious they are about trying to avert the strike. It's kind of insulting, after a year of bargaining and they come out with this," said systemwide Director Dominic Chan.

Union members voted to hold a one-day strike across UC campuses on May 26 in spite of the offer, alleging violations of labor laws and "bad faith" bargaining practices by UC.

UC officials, however, argued that the union rejected a university offer to involve third-party mediators and that holding a strike during the negotiating period is unlawful.

The university is currently considering filing a complaint against the union with the state Public Employment Relations Board.

Traci Kawaguchi

Health Care Workers Vote To Strike at Local Hospitals

More than 3,500 health care workers voted Friday to strike at 10 Sutter Health hospitals, including at two Alta Bates Sumitt Medical Centers in Berkeley, union officials announced in a statement Wednesday.

Officials from Service Employees Union United Healthcare Workers-West, which represents health care workers across Northern California, called for Sutter "to bargain in good faith over industry standards designed to protect patients."

Union officials are calling for increased managerial input and the development of an education and training fund to help workers keep up with the fast-changing health care industry.

Alta Bates was in danger of losing its accreditation after being charged with a preliminary denial of accreditation by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

The commission, which evaluates health care organizations and programs across the United States, took note of Alta Bates after a string of "patient-care deficiencies."

Union officials said the incidents, which also included the threat of federal funding cuts at Sutter Solano Medical Center in Vallejo, are traced to Sutter's managerial deficiencies.

After failed negotiations last November, the union launched a one-day strike across 13 Sutter hospitals.

The location and the date of the strike will be determined by the union bargaining committee and could take place as early as July, according to union officials.

Co-Op Association to Drop Appeal, Tries to Settle Suit

A lawsuit between neighbors of the Southside co-op Le Chateau and the co-op's parent organization may be settled out of court.

The University Students' Cooperative Association would pay 15 of Le Chateau's neighbors $32,000 under a proposed agreement that the association's executive board approved last week, George Proper, the association's general manager, said yesterday. An Alameda County small claims court previous awarded $63,000 to the 15 neighbors.

The association would also agree not to house undergraduates at Le Chateau for the next three years, Proper said.

Twenty-two neighbors filed the suit against the association last February. They alleged general "bad neighborliness" by the co-op's occupants, saying the residents were noisy and disruptive.

The deal will not be official until all 15 neighbors sign it, Proper said.

Josh Keller

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