Editorial: Regents smart to appoint staff advisers

While the University of California staff and UC Regents have sometimes struggled through labor disputes, the regents have recently taken a step toward improving the problem by approving a permanent staff representative on the board.

At its last meeting, the board finalized two non-voting positions aimed at connecting the regents to the university’s staff. These positions mirror those allotted to two faculty representatives on the board.

Given the major disputes the two groups have had in the past and that the majority of the regents’ public comment sessions consist of staff complaints, this is a strong gesture that should help ease tensions.

These staff advisers can provide a link between the staff and the regents that has been sorely lacking. It should prove to be more productive to have people who can watch out for the interests of university staff but who also understand the inner workings and unique concerns of the regents.

There will certainly be disputes between the regents and university staff in the future ““ that’s unavoidable ““ but the staff advisers will provide a smoother and more agreeable resolution to conflicts.