University of California employees affiliate with Teamsters

In May, the nearly 15,000-strong Coalition of University Employees (CUE) officially affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, making the University of California (UC) Union Joint Council 7’s newest chartered Teamster Local.

The agreement comes after the overwhelming majority – 81 percent – of voting members voted in favor of the affiliation. CUE represents more than 14,000 administrative and library assistants, cashiers, public safety dis- patchers and many other clerical employees at 11 UC campuses throughout the state.

“We welcome this affiliation with CUE and will work hard on the mem- bers’ behalf for a fair contract with the University of California,” said Joint Council 7 President Rome Aloise.

“Our members voted to affiliate with the Teamsters because of the union’s strong track record of repre- senting public service and university employees,” said Anytra Henderson, acting president of the statewide CUE.

“This overwhelming vote for the Teamsters makes us stronger,” said Linda Doran, a CUE library assistant at the Riverside campus. “Now, all the employees have to pull together so we can build a solid campaign for a fair contract.”

CUE approached the Teamsters ear- lier this year about forming an affilia- tion, said Aloise.

“CUE came to us because they appreciated the professionalism of the Teamsters and our ability to get the job done,” Aloise said. “We were able to gain this affiliation with the help of our Organizing Department and the Public Services Division.”

“The Teamsters are experts in rep- resenting education employees at all levels, and we will bring this knowl- edge to the negotiating table,” said Teamsters General President James Hoffa.

“From this day forward, an act of aggression against CUE members and Local leadership is an act against the Teamsters, and that includes attempts by other unions to replace CUE as the certified representative of the 14,000 employees in the CUE bargaining unit,” Hoffa said.

“Teamster organizers fanned out across the 10 University of California campuses to assist CUE to mobilize their members for this historic affilia- tion,” said Jeff Farmer, Director of the Teamsters’ Organizing Department. “These members join a growing move- ment of workers across the country seeking Teamster power.”