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The Regents of the University of California
 

PENSION REFORM

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is suspending his pension reform initiative that would have offered state employees hired after July 1, 2007, a defined contribution retirement plan instead of a defined benefit plan, like the UC Retirement Plan. UC officials will continue to work with state officials and legislators to find a solution that balances the state’s financial resources with UC’s need for flexibility in designing such plans. The governor said he would put the issue of pension reform before voters in June 2006 if a solution cannot be reached.

AGREEMENT REACHED

The UC reached a tentative agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) April 20 on a new, three-year labor contract for UC’s 7,300 service workers. The agreement came nearly a week after the union held a one-day strike. “We believe this agreement is fair and financially realistic given our resources and the level of state salary funding promised under our budget compact with the governor,” said Howard Pripas, UC director of labor relations. If the agreement is ratified, it will be effective through Jan. 31, 2008. Members would get 3% across-the-board wage increases, effective Oct. 1; 3% across-the-board increases in the following year; and a 4% increase in year three of the contract, consistent with the university’s budget compact with the governor and subject to final state funding appropriations in each year.

INSIGHTS INTO RACE

Beverly Daniel Tatum, president of Spelman College, will give the 2005 Allan Murray Cartter Chair Lecture at 4 p.m. May 5 at Covel Commons. A clinical psychologist who has done research on black families in white communities, racial identity in teens and the role of race in the classroom, she wrote a critically acclaimed 1997 book, “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” To honor Allan Murray Cartter, an education professor who died in 1976, an endowed chair was established in 1980, followed by the lecture series in 1994. To reserve a seat, call the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies at (310) 206-0375.

TRIBUTE TO MOM

Enjoy two scoops of fun on May 2 when the Jules Stein Eye Institute (JSEI) celebrates both Vision Awareness Month and Mother’s Day with an ice cream social from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at UCLA Medical Center’s Café Med. The event will raise funds for the “Make Surgery Bearable” program. It provides teddy bears to youngsters undergoing eye surgery. If you give $10 to the JSEI Affiliates, you will get an ice cream bar and a customized Mother’s Day card. A teddy bear will be sponsored in your mother’s name, and volunteers will mail the card for you. If you can’t attend, but want to honor your mom in this way, call (310) 825-4148.