After 17 months of bargaining and three weeks of mediation, the University of California and the University Professional and Technical Employees union have reached a tentative contractual agreement.
The agreement includes pay raises, capped health care rates, more unpaid parental leave, and new processes for career progressions and layoffs.
Union members still have to vote to approve the agreement, scheduled online from Thursday through Nov. 20, according to Dan Russell, UPTE president and chief negotiator.
Russell said UPTE rescinded its strike notice, which was planned for next Monday, pending the vote.
The union includes 21,000 UC workers, with about 400 employed at UC Santa Barbara, in positions including mental health clinicians, clinical lab scientists, staff research associates, IT analysts, accelerator operators, mechanical and electronic technicians, and system administrators.
Under the tentative agreement, UPTE members across all campuses will get an 8% pay increase for 2025, 7% for 2026, and 6% for 2027 and 2028.
Negotiations reportedly broke down last week, but UPTE “approached the mediator to re-engage with UC,” according to a joint statement from the UPTE and UC system.
“The finalized agreement reflects the university’s enduring commitment and UPTE’s advocacy for our employees who play critical roles across the university,” the statement read. “This outcome was the result of constructive dialogue and a shared commitment to finding common ground while maintaining financial responsibility in uncertain times.”
Ursula Quinn, UPTE vice president, said in a statement that the union initially called for a strike because they weren’t happy enough with UC’s offer to present it to union members.
“Throughout this process, our main goal has been to get a fair contract,” Quinn said. “Calling a strike is not something we decided to do lightly. We always wanted to hold out hope that we’d be able to reach a deal, so the fact that we were able to get there finally was really very satisfying.”
In April, workers at UCSB and other campuses went on a one-day statewide strike following an unfair labor practice charge alleging that the University of California tried forcing newly organized groups of workers into their own, separate negotiation process.
Talks over a new contract began in June 2024 before the previous contract expired in October 2024.
Going into negotiations, Quinn said employees wanted fair pay, a better work-life balance and improved job security.
“The job security in particular is a really important one,” Quinn said. “The fact that we were able to get layoff protections so that we’re able to guarantee that anyone who might be laid off will be offered an alternate position if that’s available, they get preferential rehire rights to all UC locations.”
Additionally health care workers will have extended rehire and recall rights up to three years, meaning if they are laid off, UC will have to offer them their job back if the position becomes available again within three years.