• We are getting very close to a tentative agreement (TA) on ground rules; our table team continues to fight for maximum Zoom participant numbers to support membership observation of bargaining sessions.

• UC-AFT and the UC agreed on a short-term contract extension, which will remain in effect until 11:59pm on July 16. 

• The table team will return to bargaining at UCSB on July 15-16, providing two full bargaining days to work toward a longer extension with acceptable terms, ground rules, and other proposals. (RSVP now to show your solidarity!)

Our UC-AFT Unit 18 Table Team was joined by lecturer observers and supporters from UC Davis and UC Berkeley when we came together for another contract bargaining session at Bauer Wurster Hall on June 30 in Berkeley. 

The Table Team had a very productive work session where we focused on technical aspects of the contract, including movement toward reasonable ground rules for Zoom bargaining and consideration for a contract extension. The table team did the hard work of conceptualizing and passing two extension proposals, and ground rules counterproposals.

UC-AFT Proposal on ground rules 

Over the course of the day, UC-AFT and UC exchanged three counterproposals over ground rules – coming very close to agreement. We made significant progress toward establishing a consistent rotation between in-person and Zoom bargaining sessions. As of the end of day, there is one final key point of disagreement: the total number of observers permitted in the virtual room during Zoom bargaining. While the UC proposed a cap of 100 observers, the table team is holding strong on permitting 475 observers. (We note that UC and UC-AFT had mutually agreed to this cap of 475 for months – until on May 7, UC shockingly revoked their agreement, and proposed a cap of 40 – a limit barely high enough to accommodate both bargaining teams.) 

UC-AFT is committed to keeping bargaining open and transparent to members. UC-AFT’s co-chief negotiator Kat Lewin said to the UC’s team, “We know that power on your side of the table flows up to the Regents. Our power flows down to 5,300 people who will ratify the contract. It’s important for them to understand the contract if they’re going to ratify it.” 

Another issue is ensuring accessibility to bargaining sessions for members with disabilities, which broad Zoom observation can help address. Kat explained to UC negotiators that an arbitrary cap on the number of Zoom observers reduces the ability to participate in bargaining overall, particularly for members with disabilities that outright prevent or limit them from joining in-person negotiation sessions.

UC Proposal on Summer Session

UC passed their initial proposal on Article 23 – Summer Session. UC’s proposal included two substantive changes to the article:

• Adding new procedural requirements for lecturers who want eligible Summer Session teaching to count toward service credit for Continuing Appointment. Under UC’s proposal, requests would have to be made in writing by the end of the next academic year.

• Changing the language on Health & Welfare Benefits eligibility during Summer Session. UC says their proposed changes are intended to align the contract with current UC benefits practices. 

The Table Team is reviewing the proposed language carefully to evaluate how such language would impact members across our bargaining unit.

Contract Extension Proposal and Counter

The Unit 18 contract was set to expire at 11:59pm on June 30, 2026. 

For those of you who aren’t collective bargaining junkies, FYI on contract expiration: Contract expiration does NOT mean that we have no contract or that our terms and conditions of employment disappear. If and when the contract expires, UC is generally required to maintain the status quo, and cannot simply make unilateral changes to our terms and conditions of employment.

The main differences, if we are out of contract, are that our ability to move some grievances to arbitration may be limited while the contract is expired. And while the contract is expired, in certain circumstances after legal pre-requisites are met, UC-AFT gains the ability to strike.

During the session, UC initially offered a proposal for an extension until September 30, 2026. The terms of their proposal offered no benefit to members. 

UC-AFT responded with a counterproposal to extend the contract until November 16, 2026 – along with increased layoff and reduction-in-time notice periods for the duration of the extension, and a 5% salary increase. 

Our table team pointed out that without additional compensation, UC-AFT lecturers are going to lose significant financial ground due to inflation and the increasing costs of living in California. The table team communicated that the fundamental goal with our 5% compensation proposal is to support a baseline cost of living increase for members while we continue to negotiate. And as Table Team member John Haner (UCM) firmly pointed out, University of California Office of the President recently announced that non-represented academic appointees and policy-covered staff will receive a 4% salary increase as of July 1. 

The UC expressed surprise that UC-AFT had proposed a compensation increase in exchange for a five-month contract extension. However, such a practice aligns with what sibling union CIR-SEIU won for a 1-year extension in their recent contract negotiations. At the table, the UC communicated that their team was not prepared to agree on any terms regarding wages as part of a contract extension, and would need more time to negotiate the intricacies of a proposal that involves wages. 

UC-AFT suggested the UC put their money where their mouth is: We proposed an extension until 11:59pm, on July 16 – the final day of our next bargaining session – and told them we hope they come prepared to discuss wages as part of a longer-term discussion. Come to our next bargaining session at UCSB to see if they use this time to bring back a contract extension proposal that meaningfully responds to our concerns. 

Next Bargaining Session: July 15-16 at UCSB

The UC-AFT Table Team will continue contract bargaining over two full days at UC Santa Barbara on July 15 and 16. Members can RSVP now to show your solidarity in person at UCSB in just a few weeks!