OUR PLATFORM
CUE has come a very long way since its formation in 1995. With few resources other than the support of our members, we were able to call for, and to win, a representation election covering 18,000 people from San Diego to Davis. While the "experts" all said that this job was too big for us to do by ourselves and without "professionals" and a massive budget, we won the election against two powerful opponents, UC and one of the largest unions in the U.S. We have been successful in building active union locals at every UC campus, hospital, and LBNL. We have successfully represented scores of individual employees, forced policy changes that have affected entire departments, and we are well on our way to winning the best contract UC clerical employees have ever worked under, in less time than it has taken most other UC unions to negotiate their first contracts.
Now CUE is changing and growing, and we will want to hire staff to help with the work of the union, but it will always be essential for members to know how to do all these things, and to retain control of the decision-making process. How will we do this?
The people on this slate collectively have many years of experience in dealing with UC's labor practices and with the work involved in building a union. Some of us have many years of union leadership experience, some bring experience from activism in other struggles, some have found their first activist experience in CUE. From representing grievants to conducting arbitrations, from planning a massive campaign to doing the work to carry it out, from challenging improper department practices to bargaining a systemwide contract - we have the knowledge and experience gained from having done those things! A history of successes builds confidence, and we have worked hard to ensure that more and more CUE activists can become empowered by their own successes and experiences.
Coordinating a statewide union that represents 18,000 UC employees takes hard work and dedication. Members of our slate have consistently worked long hours to bring CUE to its present status. We have never let huge challenges slow down our struggle to build the union that UC clericals need and deserve.
Democracy isn't just a nice concept, it makes a union stronger. Members of our slate have consistently supported proposals to give CUE members a voice in the union's decisions. We supported giving CUE members a vote in implementing Fair Share, in setting our dues structure, in taking a position on domestic partnership benefits, on accepting or rejecting the old AFSCME contract, and many other local and statewide issues. We fought to send out a member survey about Fair Share issues, including the amount of dues, and what members feel money should be spent on. We have consistently argued for committees that are open to all members who wish to participate, and we support the continued right of members to attend Executive Board meetings. We have argued that all CUE members, including CUE members who are casual employees, should have equal rights to participate.
We've worked hard to fashion a constitution that allows for the greatest member control and accountability of those who hold elected positions. And we've worked just as hard to amend that document to meet the needs of a growing organization. We place the highest value on keeping members informed about issues, problem, and concerns. We have worked tirelessly to develop literature to distribute as e-mail, as paper mail, and as workshop materials. When it comes to building a democratic union, not all the money in the world is as important as having an informed and active membership.
Important as they are, democratic procedures by themselves do not guarantee a democratic union. To meet the promise of democracy, the union must address the interests and needs of the entire jurisdiction. The union must be welcoming to every kind of person. On this slate, we pledge to do better than simply not to discriminate. We must find ways to overcome the divisions and biases that undermine broad member participation at all levels.
To be strong overall, CUE must consist of strong locals. The place where most members come in contact with their union is at the local level, and this is where a great deal of decision-making and authority must rest, where members are most immediately involved. There are many ways that the statewide executive board and officers can help strengthen CUE at the local level, and we are committed to that goal.
We are stronger when we work together, both within CUE and with our sisters and brothers in the other UC unions (and with outside unions). We will continue working closely with other UC unions on legislative issues, and on campaigns focused on local and statewide issues, and on coordinating our bargaining demands and strategies.
Last updated July 4, 2000.