UC and UAW near 1600-worker contract, all unions systemwide now under agreements | UC

More than 1600 UC communications, marketing and sales, or ComMaS, employees are close to securing their first contract after the UC and UAW reached a tentative agreement Sept. 17.

Over the next four years, represented employees would see a nearly 28% wage increase, as well as secured caps on healthcare premiums and clear timelines for career progression, according to ComMaS bargaining team member and digital communications specialist for UC Berkeley University Development and Alumni Relations Ian Miller.

At UC Berkeley, 270 employees would fall under the ComMaS bargaining unit, largely working to represent the university in public-facing media and sales. Bargaining units are groups of employees with similar job titles and interests who come together for collective bargaining.

With this new contract for UAW, the UC will have secured agreements for all 19 of its systemwide bargaining units, capping off a flurry of contracts settled in the last year.

“We are grateful to UAW and to both bargaining teams for their commitment to productive, good-faith negotiations,” said UC Office of the President Associate Vice President for Employee and Labor Relations Missy Matella in a press release. “Reaching a first systemwide agreement for UAW ComMaS-represented employees is a significant accomplishment and reflects the important work of everyone involved.”

Bolstered by the addition of 12,000 Student Services and Advising Professionals and Research and Public Service Professionals members, who secured a contract in May, ComMas employees will join more than 60,000 UAW 4811 union members across all UC campuses.

The ComMas bargaining unit was established in March after more than 82% of its members voted to form the union. Bargaining with the UC began shortly thereafter, in May.

The tentative agreement, the full details of which are not yet published, largely mirrors the contracts negotiated for Student Service and Advising Professionals and Research and Public Service Professionals in May, according to the UCOP press release.

“With this agreement, every UC bargaining unit is covered by a current collective bargaining agreement, providing a stable and predictable framework for employees and the University,” said UCOP spokesperson Heather Hansen in an email.

Along with wage increases, the deal provides safeguards around the use of AI and protections intended to keep communications work within the unit, Miller said.

“The colleagues that I talked to were very excited,” Miller said. “Excited about being part of the union, excited about the tentative agreement, excited about voting yes on the contract.”

Voting to ratify the contract will end Thursday, according to Miller. A simple majority of union members must approve the contract for it to come into effect.