UC announced Jan. 23 that it finalized an agreement with the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) that sets health rates and pension contributions for about 8,700 employees.

UPTE members, who include researchers and technical workers, will contribute 3.5 percent to the UC Retirement Plan retroactive to July 1, 2011, and 5 percent starting July 1, 2012. These are the same rates that the general UC employee population and other unions pay.

The university is doing its part to ensure UCRP’s long-term viability by contributing 7 percent, up from 4 percent last year. UC will raise its contributions to 10 percent on July 1, 2012. In addition, UPTE has agreed to pay the same 2012 and 2013 health rates as the rest of the employee population.

“We know how important good benefits are for our employees,” said Dwaine B. Duckett, vice president of UC Human Resources. “It is also important to acknowledge cost pressures and, in order to keep those good benefits, employees must contribute their fair share.”

UPTE members voted to ratify the agreement in mid-January. Negotiations were limited to health and pension benefits under the existing contract, which ends June 2013.

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