UCPEA has new contract language in Article 30.6 that reads, “An employee with an Area 2 University parking permit, using a state-issued handicap parking permit, and registered with Facilities Operations, shall be permitted to park at any handicap designated parking spot in surface lots, without incurring additional costs.”
Going into contract negotiations, the bargaining team recognized the need to address a practice of forcing employees with disabilities to pay more to have parking that is accessible to their workplaces. Regardless of whether or not the University was compliant with legal requirements, the practice is discriminatory.
The UCPEA team presented versions of the contract language above, only to have the entirety of Article 30.6 struck in University counter-proposals. Refusing to back-down, UCPEA used strategies at that bargaining table and within the membership. The new language was presented again, but with new evidence including testimony that illuminated the lived experience of navigating campus without affordable accessible parking options.
The Contract Action Team (CAT) supported these efforts by building and promoting a petition to raise awareness and promote solidarity.
With this win now captured in the new contract; UCPEA employees who use accessible parking are permitted to park in Area 1 accessible spots with their Area 2 permit.