Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

FAQ #1
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

April - May 2000

Q: What is UPTE?

A: UPTE stands for University Professional and Technical Employees. It is an organization made up of University of California employees who are working together to improve our working conditions. We are programmers, researchers, buyers, technicians, analysts, writers, and other UC employees working on the nine UC campuses, the five UC medical centers, and the Lawrence Berkeley and Los Alamos National Labs.
We were founded in 1990 and in 1993. UPTE affiliated with the Communication Workers of America, a national union, in order to better organize and represent our members. That's why our full name is UPTE-CWA Local 9119, AFL-CIO. Since then, we have successfully campaigned for collective bargaining rights and union contracts for over ten thousand UC employees.

Q: How does UPTE work?

A: UPTE is a democratic, member-run union. UPTE's decisions are made by UPTE members, who join and pay dues, and their elected representatives. UPTE members at each UC campus, hospital, and Lab elect representatives to the UPTE Systemwide Executive Board. All UPTE members elect UPTE's officers (President, Executive Vice President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer). UPTE holds an annual Systemwide Convention, at which delegates from all locations make decisions and take votes on the policies and programs of the union for the coming year.

Q: What is UPTE doing at Los Alamos?

A: A small group of us working at the Los Alamos National Laboratory found the UPTE web page and approached UPTE for assistance two years ago. We were concerned about the RIFs and about LANL's vague and ever-changing personnel policies. We knew that other UC employees, including employees at LBNL, had joined together to address these types of issues. As a result, with assistance from UPTE, we now have our own UPTE Local, Local 1663, here at LANL.

Q: Why is this happening now?

A: In the past, we were not eligible to unionize because we were exempt from the higher education bargaining law that covered other UC employees. Those of us here at Los Alamos asked UPTE-CWA to help us change the law. That effort was successful, and as of January 1, we have the right to join and form employee organizations. That's why there is a lot of talk, by employees and by management, about unionization.

Q: Why does LANL management say we don't need a union?

A: UC has taken this position for more than two decades. UC has long been opposed to unions because they limit management's discretion and protects and expands employee rights. If that weren't true, UC wouldn't bother to oppose unions. UC management always tells employees that unions are run by "outsiders," that unions don't care about employees, and that unions can't make a difference. But tens of thousands of UC employees have disagreed and have formed and joined unions, voted for collective bargaining, and negotiated contracts covering their terms and conditions of employment. More than 60,000 UC employees -- including nurses, librarians, lecturers, secretaries, skilled craft workers, graduate students, and custodians -- have rejected these arguments and voted to unionize.

Q: How much are the dues and how is our dues money used?

A: Now, UPTE's membership dues are $20 per month. As we organize here at LANL, we keep and spend all of our dues on building our union and winning our organizing drive. When we have our contract in place, the dues will increase to a percentage dues rate with a cap -- currently $35 for higher paid employees and $25 for lower-paid employees. At that point, some of our dues will go to UPTE and some of our dues will go to CWA to be used to pay for periodic contract negotiations; legal and administrative support; help with grievances and arbitration; assistance for researching and analyzing the UC DOE contracts and finances, health and safety support, and other programs that benefit the members.

Q: What about strikes?

A: UC management, including management here at the Lab, loves to talk about strikes because it's a scary subject. But it's important to remember some basic facts about strikes. No one can force you to strike. There can only be a strike if a strong majority vote in a secret ballot vote to support a strike action. Over 95% of all union contracts are settled without a strike. Strikes by UC employees are virtually unheard of.

Q: Can I get fired for helping UPTE or for attending union meetings?

A: It is our legal right under the collective bargaining statute to form and join labor unions. Each one of us has this right. The law that gives it to us, HEERA, also provides a process to bring Unfair Labor Practice Charges against employers who violate our rights.

Q: What benefits can UPTE guarantee if we vote for the union here?

A: We can't make any guarantees. But together, as a union, we will have a formal mechanism we can use to work for improvements here at LANL. Without a union and a union contract, the Lab can continue to make its own rules and to change the rules when it wants to. Unionized workers at UC have better policies, and labor statistics show that unionized workers earn better pay and benefits. How well we do here will depend on us.

Q: Will I lose the benefits I have now?

A: This has not happened to other UC workers. And, the pay and benefits you hve now remain in place throughout the period of bargaining. It is against labor law for an employer to threaten to take them away if you vote for a union.

Q: Aren't all unions corrupt?

A: Employers would like for you to believe that all union officials everywhere are corrupt. There has never been even a whisper of any impropriety about UPTE or CWA. Besides, most union leaders are honest, hard-working and dedicated to improving the lives of working people. Remember that we vote to elect the leaders of our union and we can just as easily vote them out if we don't like the job they are doing.

Q: What can we expect LANL to do to try to get us to vote against our union?

A: Usually, employers (including UC) try to influence workers with scare tactics such as anti-union mailings and training, and meetings to persuade workers to vote against their own best interest. They will even try to influence by making improvements in pay, benefits and other kinds of concerns workers may have. It is important to know that UC will go through these motions to try and stop us from unionizing. Once we vote for the union, UC will sit down and bargain a contract with us, as it is done throughout UC with other unions.

Q: What will it take to win a union at LANL?

A: It will take a lot of us, working together as an organizing committee -- that is employees from all buildings, departments, titles, classifications, ethnic groups, etc. -- talking to their co-workers and bringing them to meetings to discuss how a union works and what benefits it can bring to a workforce. Committee members will ask co-workers to sign cards calling for an election. Once we have cards signed by a majority of a bargaining unit, we can call for a vote. The Public Employment Relations Board will conduct a secret ballot vote. If fifty percent plus one of those voting vote "yes," we will have the right to elect a bargaining committee and negotiate a contract with UC.

For comments or questions, contact us by email: lanl@upte.org
or by phone at (505) 662-4679

This page last updated on 10 March 2001 .