UC's University Professional and Technical Employ-ees union has petitioned the Public Employment Relations Board for an election to determine if UPTE can become the exclusive representative of certain staff who are currently coded as "99-no representative."

The petition seeks the right to exclusively represent employees in a range of titles, including employees classified as analysts, student affairs officers, buyers and editors. A complete list of the titles subject to the petition is online at http://www.hr.ucdavis.edu/Employee_and_Labor _Relations/administrative_professionals/.

UPTE estimates about 13,000 employees system wide will be included in the new unit. At UC Davis, there are approximately 860 campus employees and 260 UC Davis Health System employees in the affected titles.

UPTE filed the petition May 29. Along with the petition, the union provided authorization cards showing support by 30 percent of the UC employees who would be in the unit. If successful, the union will bargain wages, hours and terms and conditions of employment for all employees in the unit.

The university has provided a list of the names of all the employees in the proposed unit to the board. PERB is now in the process of determining whether the union has demonstrated sufficient support to call for an election. If the board finds sufficient support exists, it will establish a date for an election and determine who will be eligible to vote. Ultimately, whether or not the 99's are organized into an UPTE bargaining unit will be determined by a simple majority vote. Employees who do not vote will be bound by the decision of the majority.

For details, see Employee and Labor Relations links at http://www.hr.ucdavis.edu or call (530) 754-8892.

-- Dateline staff report