After nearly two years, UC settles pay dispute with custodians

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Inside Bay Area

After nearly two years, UC settles pay dispute with custodians
Pact gives lowest paid employees $1.75 an hour raise
By William Brand, STAFF WRITER
Article Last Updated: 05/22/2007 05:14:40 PM PDT

OAKLAND -- After 18 months of bargaining that included boycotts of the University of California, Berkeley campus by speakers including actor Danny Glover and politicians, UC and union officials announced a contract settlement this afternoon that raises the salaries of custodians.

The deal between the University of California and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees gives the university's lowest paid employees -- custodians -- a $1.75 an hour pay raise at UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz and UC Santa Barbara. Lower paid employees at other campuses will receive varying amounts. Much of the pay raise is retroactive to April 1.

"That may not sound like much, but it's important," said AFSCME Local 3299 President Lakesha Harrison. "It's been a long time coming. When we started, the university's original offer was 20 cents an hour."

The more than $8 million cost of the pay raises has been in the university's budget since last year, she said. But it took UC until now to take action.

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