UC officials announced Wednesday that UC has reached a tentative agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees on a new, three-year labor contract for UC's 7,300 service workers, some of whom staged a strike across the UC system last week.

Once ratified by AFSCME, the agreement will be effective from the date of ratification through Jan. 31, 2008.

Highlights of the agreement include:

Wages: 3 percent across-the-board wage increases, effective Oct. 1, 2005; 3 percent across-the-board increases in year two; and a 4 percent increase in year three of the contract, consistent with the university's budget compact with the governor and subject to final state funding appropriations in each year;

Health benefits: UC will maintain its current salary-based approach to health insurance premiums through 2009;

Professional development and training: Expanded employee development and training resources, including 24 hours per year of paid career development, and the establishment of a labor-management committee to identify career paths and promotional opportunities;

Parking rates: AFSCME-represented employees will receive the same lowest parking rates as other represented staff at the same location with the same parking access.

UC and AFSCME began negotiations for service employees in July 2004. On March 11, UC and the union began formal impasse ("fact-finding") proceedings, certified by a state mediator. Representatives from both sides met again for discussions April 18 and 19 at the UC Office of the President in Oakland.

The union held a one-day strike on April 14, which the university believes was unlawful given that the entire bargaining process had not been completed. The university has not decided whether to file an official complaint against the union for the strike, or if any other action will be taken.

Some, but not major, disruptions were reported on campus and at UCs statewide as a result of the strike.

At the Davis campus, almost 200 employees did not report to work as usual. Many, instead, spent the day hoping to rally support for issues including wage increases by picketing in high traffic areas, including the corner of First and A streets, outside Mrak Hall, and at the dedication of the Marya Welch Tennis Center.

At the UC Davis Health System, some 220 AFSCME-represented and other employees took part in the strike, the first such event in the medical center's history.

The union represents about 425 and 650 at the Davis and medical center campuses, respectively.

Throughout the UC system, 40-75 percent of AFSCME-represented employees participated in the strike, as did some UC students and members of other unions. Santa Cruz, Berkeley and UCLA experienced the biggest turnout of strikers. Pickets ranged from about 75 people to several hundred, though all were lawful and generally peaceful, according to UC Office of the President reports. Impacts to core campus and hospital operations and services were reported as minimal, despite some problems with deliveries and mail and food services.

"Whatever your point of view, I think we all can agree that everyone's actions were exemplary, and we should take great pride in that," said Robert Chason, CEO of the medical center, recognizing the union's respectful conduct as well as the employees who volunteered to fill in for striking personnel.

AFSCME represents UC service workers including custodians, groundskeepers, food service workers, cooks, storekeepers, transportation and parking personnel.

The UC Davis hospital was full on April 14, but patient care was provided as usual, and all surgeries proceeded as scheduled, and clinic operations were normal. However, the medical center closed its public cafeterias for the day, and shuttle service was not in operation.

On campus, Architects and Engineers reported that the strike was likely to delay some project completion dates, due to picketing disruption at construction sites or subcontractors who walked off the job in sympathy — including at the Tercero Dining Commons and the Veterinary Medicine Instructional Facility, where job sites were almost empty, and at the West Entry Parking Structure site, where a major concrete pour was canceled. Meanwhile, in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, a discussion session for one class was canceled due to lack of student turnout; Memorial Union restrooms went unserviced during the day; and Dateline was not able to be processed by Bulk Mail or the Mail Division in time for Friday distribution.

Main issues in the contract negotiations between AFSCME and UC have involved wages. UC had been offering across-the-board salary increases for service workers, dependent upon the amount of state funding it receives. UC's budget compact with the governor provides for salary increases, which UC hopes will be supported by the state Legislature.

In contrast, AFSCME has been seeking guaranteed salary increases, regardless of the amount of state funds provided. In addition, the union is insisting on salary increases every six months for the next three years, which would amount to more than a 20-percent increase -- twice the maximum amount supported by the compact and what other employees would receive.