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The UC Office of the President announced Dec. 12 that the Coalition of University Employees, or CUE, representing more than 12,500 clerical staff, had ratified a five-year agreement on wages, benefits and other issues.

UCOP announced a tentative deal with CUE in early November, after negotiations that began in May 2008 and included the assistance of a state-appointed mediator.

CUE members voted on the agreement from Nov. 18 to Dec. 9, and, with its approval, UC has multiyear contracts in place with all of its major unions for the first time in many years.

“We are pleased our clerical unit is finally under contract,” Dwaine B. Duckett, vice president of systemwide Human Resources, said in a news release. “The efforts between CUE-Teamsters and the university produced a fair agreement where both sides made difficult choices.

“We are particularly pleased they proactively came to the table with us to reach agreement on the new pension tier” (for people hired after July 1, 2013).

The CUE agreement, effective through Nov. 30, 2016, includes the following highlights, according to the UCOP news release:

• Wages — To make salaries more market-competitive, employees will receive a 3 percent wage increase for the 2011-12 fiscal year retroactive to July. Additionally, CUE workers will receive 3 percent wage increases for the next three years, and a 2 percent increase for the final contract year of 2015-16. Step increases will be given to eligible employees based on years of service and performance.

• Pension — Employees will contribute to the UC Retirement Plan at the same rate as the general UC employee population. Contributions will be 3.5 percent of pay retroactive to July 1, 2011; 5 percent of pay starting July 1, 2012; and 6.5 percent starting July 1, 2013. If new rates are approved for 2014 and 2015, CUE members will pay the same rates as the general employee population.

CUE members hired after July 1, 2013, will fall under the new pension benefit tier, in which employees will contribute 7 percent of pay. This is the same rate that will apply to unrepresented faculty and staff who are hired after July 1, 2013.