UC, Union Come to Tentative Agreement

The University of California and the union representing its 7,300 service workers said Wednesday that they have reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract for the janitors, cooks, groundskeepers and others.

The agreement, which must still be ratified by workers, includes a 3% across-the-board wage increase for each of the next two years, with a 4% raise for the third year, UC officials said.

The raises are conditional on the university receiving sufficient funding from the state, they said.

The announcement came less than a week after a one-day strike by service workers and their supporters at UC campuses and hospitals. The walkout caused minor disruptions throughout the university system.

The tentative deal also includes provisions for professional development and training for the employees, UC officials said.

It would expire Jan. 31, 2008.

A spokeswoman for Local 3299 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said the accord also includes shift differential increases for custodial workers and free meals for food service employees.

Overall, “we can say we’re happy with it,” union spokeswoman Faith Raider said.

She said workers will vote on the agreement in the next few weeks.