Lower-paid employees get raises under new deal

UC officials announced May 22 an agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union regarding special wage increases for lower-paid employees. The agreement affects about 14,300 UC service and patient care employees earning less than $40,000 per year, and represents a total cost of about $8.9 million.

The agreement, effective April 1, includes $4.3 million in raises for nearly 3,000 UC custodians as follows:

• Custodians at UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz and UC Santa Barbara will receive a $1.25 per hour increase, followed by a $0.50 per hour increase on Oct. 1, for a total wage increase of $1.75 per hour.
• Custodians at other UC campuses (except UCSF Medical Center) will receive a $0.50 per hour base-building wage increase.

In addition to special raises for custodians, other AFSCME-represented employees will receive the following:

• Employees earning less than $30,000: 2 percent salary increase
• Employees earning $30,000-$34,999: 1 percent salary increase
• Employees earning $35,000-$39,999: 0.5 percent salary increase.

12 staffers seek election to retirement plan board

Twelve employees from around the UC — none from the Davis campus — are running for two seats on the UC Retirement System Advisory Board. It develops ideas and new approaches pertaining to retirement and savings program benefits, and communicates such information to the Office of the President.

The election Web site, atyourservice.ucop.edu/ucrs_election, includes a list of candidates with links to candidate statements. The election is set to be conducted online from May 29 to June 22. To cast a ballot, go to the same site and follow the "Vote Now" link. Eligible voters are those who are active members of the UC Retirement Plan and not members of the Academic Senate, which chooses its own advisory board members.

The successful candidates, who cannot be from the same campus, will join seven other advisory board members: four presidential appointees, including an officer of the university; the regents' treasurer or the treasurer's designee; and two people selected by the Academic Senate.

Ride for Humanity

UC Davis students are organizing a bikeathon to raise money for Yolo County Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that builds homes for low-income families.

The Ride for Humanity, a project of the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity, is scheduled for June 2, with check-in from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Center, 203 E. 14th St., Davis. The route goes to Winters and back.

The registration fees are $20 for youths, $30 for students and $35 for nonstudents, with $10 added on for registration after May 30. Participants are encouraged to gather financial pledges for their efforts.

Information and registration: bikeathon@ucdhabitat.com or ride.ucdabitat.com.