BILL NUMBER:  SB 959
  VETOED	DATE: 09/28/2016




To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 959 without my signature.

This bill seeks to bring wage and benefit parity to the University of
California's contracted workers in specific job categories, such as
custodial, clerical and food services, and other services associated
with the University's medical enterprises.

Earlier this year, the author requested and the Legislature approved
a specific state audit of UC contracting practices and contracted
employees. As has been the case with prior audits, this process will
likely yield some number of recommendations for change, and it would
be prudent to await the recommendations from the State Auditor before
embarking on the path prescribed by this bill.

While this audit is pending, I would strongly caution the University
to keep its spending in check, specifically as it relates to the
compensation of its highest wage earners-many of whom already make
hundreds of thousands of dollars more in salary and benefits than the
average UC employee or its contracted workers in the aforementioned
job categories.

Continuing to enrich the highest paid workers-and they are workers
for the public good-will only undermine UC's essential argument that
it can't afford parity policies such as the one contemplated in this
bill.

Sincerely,



Edmund G. Brown Jr.