Mr. Kalmijn will talk about one UC union that has helped to make the University a better place to work. He will also review the recent passage of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Act that promises to help some victims of work place dangers. After his brief presentation, Mr. Kalmijn invites Lab employees to participate in a discussion.

University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) is a University of California union, which represents close to 18,000 of our professional UC colleagues. UPTE is present at all nine campuses as well as at LBNL and at LANL. Its members include research scientists, technicians, health care professionals, and administrative professionals. UPTE is affiliated with the Communication Workers of America (CWA).

Since its founding ten years ago, UPTE has halted deteriorating wage policies at UC and begun bringing back cost of living increases. It has worked at the bargaining table and supported legislative efforts to help improve the health and safety of UC employees.

Please post until 4/28/01

Biographical Information about Mr. Kalmijn and his associates:

Jelger Kalmijn
A Staff Research Associate at UC San Diego for 11 years in the department of psychiatry. For the last seven years working on a genetics of alcoholism research project. Active in building a union for professionals and technicals since becoming a UC employee. Served on the UPTE executive board for 10 years and systemwide president of UPTE for the last 4.

Lisa Morowitz
A systemwide coordinator working for UPTE. She has been our lead organizer for our campaign at Los Alamos National Lab for the past year. She has many years of experience as an attorney and organizer with CWA in New York, New Jersey and Missouri. She has been pivotal in coordinating UPTE's efforts to recruit 1000's of new members since the passage of fair share legislation.

Mark Blum
Senior consultant to the CWA Public and Health Care Department. Provides support to professional and higher education organizing and mobilizing campaigns all over the US. He was recently the chief bargainer for CUE's first contract for the clerical employees at UC and has coordinated effectively with DOE in Oakland and Washington, DC on behalf of unionized UC Lab employees. He was previously in charge of organizing for the American Association of University Professors. He served as a professor of economics at City University of New York after completing his graduate studies at the London School of Economcs.

Visit the UPTE website http://www.upte.org

SPSE President-elect Jeff Colvin's Report on Jelger's Talk

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