September 30, 2013

The Honorable Janet Napolitano, President

University of California

1111 Franklin Street

Oakland, CA 94607

Dear President Napolitano:

Welcome to California, and congratulations on your recent appointment as President of the

University of California.

We write to share our concern ab out recent decisions made by UC administrators resulting in

unequal treatment for job classifications dominated by non-white e mployees.

This past year, UC contract negotiations with its employees have largely resulted in signed

agreements, providing many workers at the b ackbone of the UC system with we ll-deserved 3%

wage increases.

UC has applied a different standard to its patient care and service workers – 90 % of whom are

immigrants and people of color.

Service workers are the only ones that have been singled out for a wage freeze. These women

and men are already the lowest-paid UC employees.

We recognize and respect that UC's administrative staff are people of good will. We are

confident that they are not consciously singling out employees of color. But we also recognize

that most often discriminatory practices evolve from equitable theories.

Whatever the reason, whatever the recen t history, singling out the University’s largest population

of minority workers for the harshest treatment at the bargaining table sends a deeply disturbing

message. Nothing could be less consist ent with the values you have embodied throughout your

career.