To: Academic and Campus Leadership
March 15, 2023
Dear Colleagues,
I write to inform you of an update from UCOP and the latest discussions with UAW. The attached letter from the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Katherine Newman, summarizes the focus of the discussions, which center around implementation of the agreed upon contracts for ASEs and GSRs. Specifically, the inclusion of “top ups” into wages and the different and distinct salary scales for ASEs and GSRs is addressed.
Please take a moment to review the attached letter (also copied below for your convenience) and review the FAQs published by UCOP.
Sincerely, Gregg Camfield
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
Subject: ASE-GSR Contract Implementation
This letter is sent on behalf of Provost Katherine S. Newman. For your convenience, the text of the letter is below. The signed letter is attached as a pdf.
EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCHANCELLORS/PROVOSTS
Re: ASE-GSR Contract Implementation
Dear Colleagues:
The University of California has been engaged in conversations with the United Auto Workers (UAW) regarding implementation of certain elements of the agreement reached in December.
In reaching these historic agreements with the UAW, the University is proud that the new negotiated salary scales and wage rates will ensure that our student employees are fairly and appropriately compensated for their service to the University. With these wage increases, the University is more competitive and a national leader in supporting graduate students when they are employees.
While we are proud of the work we have done through these agreements, our implementation conversations with the UAW have focused on two issues: (1) the inclusion of “top-ups” into wages, and (2) the different and distinct salary scales for ASEs and GSRs. The University has been clear throughout this process that top-ups will be converted into wages and subsumed into the new salary scales for current members as part of the ratified contracts. We have maintained that after a one-time conversion, the agreed upon salary scales for each unit will apply going forward, eliminating the need for top-ups. This position is essential to maintaining our role as a steward of public funds, to ensuring the strength of graduate education at the University, and to giving meaning to the salary scales and the newly created experience-based movement through the salary scales that were negotiated by both parties.
For your background on these important issues, and to assist in your implementation of the ASE and GSR contracts, attached are “Frequently Asked Questions: Implementation of ASE and GSR Collective Bargaining Agreements.” At your earliest opportunity, please share the FAQs document with the relevant stakeholder groups on your campus, including Senate Division Chairs, Graduate Deans, Vice Chancellors for Research, Deans and Department Chairs, Academic Personnel and Labor Relations offices so that they have guidance on how to implement the ASE and GSR contracts.
This has been a challenging period for many of us as we work hard to resolve these issues and implement new contracts that support our hardworking academic employees and the University’s teaching, research, and public service mission. Thank you for your continued partnership and understanding throughout this process. Please reach out to my office with any questions.
Best wishes,
Katherine S. Newman
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Sociology & Public Policy
Attachment: Frequently Asked Questions: Implementation of ASE and GSR Collective Bargaining Agreements
cc: President Drake
Chancellors
Chair Cochran
Vice Chair Steintrager
Vice Provost Haynes
