From: UAW 2865 Berkeley <berk...@uaw2865.org>
To: xxxx...@xxxxx.com
Subject: Healthcare Bargaining Update; Straw Poll on Demands
Date: Tue, 25 May 2010 16:23:22 +0000 (UTC)

Dear UAW Local 2865 member,

We are writing to update you on the current state of bargaining with the UC over
our healthcare benefits. On May 17, the University abruptly broke off
negotiations over implementation of a systemwide GSHIP that is to take effect
before the end of our current contract. The systemwide GSHIP contains many
positive features and we are pleased that the UC has accepted many of our
recommendations.  However, we feel strongly that further improvements can and
must be made, especially with regards to dependent healthcare benefits. To this
end, we will continue to bargain with the University for dependent-care-coverage
remissions in our full contract negotiations.  In continuing negotiations, we will
continue to demand a systemwide GSHIP that includes (1) the participation of all
ten campuses, (2) a benefits package that is strong enough that all campuses
feel it is in their best interest to participate in the plan, and (3) a consistently
high quality of healthcare across all campuses.
   Moreover, we continue to maintain that the university must bargain any
changes that would occur after September 30, 2010 (the expiration of our
current contract).

In order to achieve these goals as we transition into bargaining over the full
contract, we are taking a straw poll to reaffirm our members’ commitment to our
position regarding GSHIP. Polling began Monday, May 24, and will end on
Thursday, May 27. Furthermore, as we move into the full contract negotiations,
we will have a bargaining kickoff event to demonstrate the importance of our
working conditions on the learning conditions of UC students. This event will
take place on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 from noon to 1pm across all UC
campuses. We will continue to bargain over GSHIP in the successor contract
negotiations based on your reaffirmed commitment.

Polling is happening through member-to-member organizing (on campus, on the
phone, etc.). If you want to weigh in via email, please reply no later than
midnight on Thursday. Please include your full name with your response.

Poll language:
We support UAW 2865’s position that (1) a systemwide GSHIP must have a
benefits package that is strong enough that all campuses feel it is in their best
interest to participate in the plan, and that (2) the quality of healthcare should
be consistent at all campuses. We also support UAW 2865’s position that the
University shall not make any changes to GSHIP after September 30, 2010
without agreement from UAW 2865.

Stay tuned for more detailed information on our planned actions. To find out
how you can be involved, please contact your campus office.

In solidarity,

UAW Local 2865 Bargaining Committee

Molly Ball, Davis Recording Secretary
Kelly Burns, Santa Barbara Recording Secretary
Jorge Cabrera, Santa Barbara Chair
Josh Cho, Irvine Chair
Evelyn Fidler, San Diego Chair
John Gust, Riverside Recording Secretary
Des Harmon, Los Angeles Recording Secretary
Nick Kardahji, Berkeley Recording Secretary
Jessy Lancaster, Santa Cruz Recording Secretary
Juliette Lunger, Los Angeles Chair
Brian Malone, Santa Cruz Chair
David Selby, San Diego Recording Secretary
Jessica Taal, Berkeley Chair

Bron Tamulis, Irvine Recording Secretary
David Willhoite, Riverside Chair
Jesse Woo, Davis Chair

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UAW 2865 Berkeley
2070 Allston Way, Suite 205
Berkeley, CA 94704
phone: (510) 849-1628  /  fax: (510) 549-2514
berk...@uaw2865.org  /  www.uaw2865.org

mail-list.com    1302 Waugh Dr. #438    Houston, Texas    77019    USA

This message was launched into cyberspace to xxxx...@xxxxx.com

Uh, really? When you call something “straw poll”, don’t you usually have more than one choice? I understand that this “straw poll” would be nonbinding (as all straw polls are), but what they are trying to do here is not get a genuine level of support from UAW 2865 members. What they are trying to do here is goose up fake support (esp. goosed up by union mobs carrying clipboards on campus throughout this week) and call it a “poll”. This sounds more like the poll they conduct in North Korea. You know, vote for Secretary Kim as the new secretary, or don’t vote at all.

Well. I remember what happened last time I signed something than looked innocuous from my beloved UAW 2865. They turned the statement into vicious bullying demands while retaining my name among the signatories. And this statement doesn’t even look innocuous right from the start, so it’s clear what I should do—rip up the paper if anyone hands me one to sign.

P.S. There’s only one thing I want out of GSHIP: I want to be able to opt out of it (and keep the benefits as actual dollars, reduced for tax if necessary). Frankly, I don’t like the pool I am in as a participant in GSHIP, and I can do far better on my own (even after the tax penalty) outside the system.