CUE-Teamsters Stand Against Pay and Pension Discrimination at University of California

Teamsters Push for a Fair Contract at Regents Meeting

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hundreds of CUE-Teamsters Local 2010 members were joined by other Teamsters from across the area to rally outside the University of California Regents' meeting today. The CUE members held the rally to deliver the message that they will no longer stand for pay and pension discrimination.

The 14,000 CUE-Teamster members are employees of the university and work as clerical and administrative assistants at each of the 11 university campuses, labs and medical centers. These employees, most of whom are women and minorities, voted to affiliate with the Teamsters Union this past May. They have been trying to negotiate a contract for over two years.

"We are no strangers to negotiating contracts," said Rome Aloise, Teamsters International Vice President and President of Teamsters Joint Council 7 in Northern California. "Our union has a reputation for obtaining quality agreements in the public and private sectors."  

Aloise expressed concern that the lack of a fair contract could trigger some unpleasant consequences.  "If we have to prove the value of our members by halting services, products and materials that enable the University to function, we are prepared to take that critical step and enlist the support of all unions in the state."

In a period of just three days, more than 1,500 CUE-Teamster members signed petitions pledging to fight for a good contract. The petitions were delivered to the Regents by Anytra Henderson, acting president of CUE-Teamsters Local 2010.

"As I deliver these petitions to you, let me reiterate that forcing clerical employees to take a net pay cut while you promise wage increases to other groups is unconscionable," Henderson said. "CUE-Teamsters are serious. Our members have not had a raise since 2007. We have single mothers, people living in subsidized housing.  Yet, you, the Regents, think you can give others raises.  We refuse to be discriminated against."

Other groups also spoke out at the Regents' meeting, and the rally that followed, in support of CUE-Teamsters' fight for a good contract.  They were:  Bob Samuels, President, University Council-AFT; Filiberto Gomez, Executive Board member of the UC Student Alliance, a representative from California State Assemblymember Fiona Ma's office,  Assemblymember Tom Ammiano and Leah Rowell, representing California State Senator Leland Yee (D).

SOURCE CUE-Teamsters Local 2010