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The University of California has declared a formal impasse in contentious contract negotiations with its 18,000 library assistants, childcare workers and other clerical employees, setting the stage for state intervention in a 19-month-old labor dispute centered on wages and workplace safety. 

“We’ve been bargaining with [the clericals’ union] for over a year and a half and it’s time to bring these negotiations to a close, even if that means formal impasse,” said Gayle Cieszkiewicz, executive director of UC labor relations, in a statement. 

But leaders of the clericals’ union, the Coalition of University Employees, argued that there is still room for negotiation and blasted the university for declaring an impasse. 

“This is premature,” said Margy Wilkinson, chief negotiator for the union, which has staged strikes on five UC campuses, including UC Berkeley, since August. 

The university is offering a 3.5 percent salary hike over the course of two years, arguing that it can offer no more because of limits on state funding. UC officials say the union’s call for a 15 percent raise over two years is unrealistic and has caused the impasse. 

“We’re offering the best wages possible given the state budget crisis and its impact on UC salaries, but the union continues to demand wage increases that far exceed available funding,” said Cieszkiewicz. 

Union officials say the university has more than $4 billion in an unrestricted reserve that it could tap to fund large pay hikes. But the university says the money is labeled “unrestricted” for accounting purposes only and is actually tied up in various legal and fiduciary obligations and long-term programs such as housing construction. 

The university will send its declaration of an impasse to the state’s Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). Once the board receives the paperwork, it has five days to investigate before determining whether a true deadlock exists. 

If PERB decides there is an impasse, the state’s mediation and conciliation service will appoint a mediator. If the two sides still fail to reach an agreement, PERB will appoint a three-member panel to conduct “fact-finding” and propose a contract of its own. 

If the university and clericals reject the proposal, the university could impose a final contract. But Jerilyn Gelt, labor relations specialist for PERB, said the legality of an imposed contract is an area of dispute. 

Contact reporter at scharfenberg@ 

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