As employees of the University of California, our rights at work are protected by the Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act (HEERA) of 1979. This includes our rights to bargain collectively and to form, join, and participate in the activities of organizations of our choosing for the purpose of representation on all matters of employer-employee relations. Other rights established by HEERA include:
- Protections against unilateral changes to the terms and conditions of your employment
- A statutory process governing collective bargaining negotiations that obligates both parties to participate in good faith, legally-mandated resolution procedures, including mediation and fact-finding should negotiations reach an impasse.
- Protections from reprisals, discrimination, coercion or interference when you exercise your legally-protected rights.
The California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) oversees these rights as well as the collective bargaining process and adjudicates disputes between the UC and its workers when they arise. All workers in the State of California also have additional protections against retaliation and discrimination enforced by the CA Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and the CA Labor Commissioner. You can learn more about those at the DIR’s website.
Like other union-represented employees, teaching faculty and librarians who are in our bargaining units and represented by UC-AFT have what are known as “Weingarten Rights,” a right to union representation during any investigatory interview with management. If you are asked by your supervisor or administrator to join a meeting that you reasonably believe might lead to discipline, you can request that a union representative of your choosing be present. Note: your supervisor or administrator does not have to notify you of your rights to union representation – you must assert your rights. To do so, say:
“If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined, terminated, or could affect my personal working conditions, I respectfully request that my union representative be present. Until my representative arrives, I choose not to participate in this discussion.”
In addition to these fundamental rights, members of each of our bargaining units have additional rights and protections established in our collective bargaining agreements. Since UC-AFT negotiated its first contract in 1983, we have worked hard to expand these rights and protections and to educate our colleagues about them. Learn more about your rights below.
