Laid off from UCB after over 30 years of service!

Dear CUE members and friends:

We write to you to ask for your support for long-time CUE union member Ellie Corley, a UC employee with 33 years of service as an Administrative Assistant I.

Ellie has been laid off, with her work being assigned to others. She was told on January 9 to leave and not return to work and that she was being placed on paid leave till her employment ends, on March 10.

CUE is vigilant about all layoffs. They are always regrettable, and many of them unjustifiable, but Ellie’s case is special. Ellie is 70 years old, and she cannot afford to retire.

Is this how long-term, older employees should be treated? We don't think so.

While all layoffs are regrettable, and many of them unjustifiable, Ellie’s case is special. She has been working in the Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance, John Ellis, who is paid over $175,514 a year. Asked if he would be willing to do as several Stanford administrators have done, and take a small pay cut himself to protect lower-paid staff, Ellis smiled and declined.

We call on the Chancellor to exercise moral leadership in these extraordinary times and encourage the higher-paid administrators to take some pay cuts. We call on the Chancellor to impose an immediate moratorium on layoffs to protect valued members of the campus community and their families from the trauma of long term unemployment in these harsh economic times. We propose the administration use other measures such as the START program, to allow staff to share the burden on a voluntary basis. We have to ask: if there were legitimate budget problems in John Ellis’ unit, why did Ellis rule that no staff in his unit could participate in the money-saving START program?

What is really going on?

"I feel as though John Ellis and his staff just have no use for older employees, especially when they are union activists," says Ellie.

For years, Ellie has been a constant and generous supporter of other clericals and valued part of CUE rallies and meetings. Now, she needs our help!

Please take the time to write to Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance John Ellis and tell him:

*Take back the layoff notice.
*Put Ellie back to work.
*Follow UC's own policy on Equity & Inclusion.
*Develop a campus wide program that is based on shared sacrifice and that protects UC staff from unemployment.

Thank you,

CUE Local 3 Executive Board
The Union for UC Clericals

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*SAMPLE LETTER TO SEND – OR WRITE YOUR OWN!*

Or, sign the ipetition here:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/giveElliebackherjob/

Dear Associate Vice Chancellor John Ellis,

This concerns your decision to lay off Ellie Corley, who has worked as an Administrative Assistant I at UC for 33 years. As you know, Ellie is over 70 years old and she cannot afford to retire.

This kind of disrespectful treatment is counter to everything the university claims to believe in, notably the sentiments in the “Administration 2008 recommendations related to equity and inclusion.”

I don't know if this is a case of age discrimination, or if she is being retaliated against for her union activity. Could it be both? If this is a matter of budget needs, why are new employees being hired, new positions being created? Why are you spending money holding staff parties to make employees feel appreciated, only to lay off Ellie Corley? Like Ellie, I feel that she is being treated unfairly. No employee should be treated this way. Long-time, loyal employees should be rewarded, not punished.

I ask that you:

**Take back the layoff notice,
**Put Ellie Corley back to work
**Follow UC's own policy on Equity and Inclusion, and the CUE contract on respectful, fair treatment.
** Develop a campus wide program that is based on shared sacrifice and that protects UC staff from unemployment.

Name:
Years of service to UC:
UC Affiliation:

EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR JOHN ELLIS & OTHER UCB ADMINISTRATORS:
John Ellis, Associate Vice Chancellor Finance and Controller j_ellis@berkeley.edu

And send copies to:
Nathan Brostrom, Assistant Vice Chancellor: vcadmin@berkeley.edu
Gibor Basri, Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion: vcei@berkeley.edu
Robert Birgeneau, Chancellor: chancellor@berkeley.edu