In the most important measures, the new contract offered by the University of California to its service workers is a resounding victory for the union.

Despite higher student fees next year and microscopic wage increases for faculty, the university has offered service workers a sizable raise – totaling 10 percent over the next three years. And if the governor fails to get the Legislature to pass his compact, putting the raises at risk, the deal specifically recognizes the right of service workers to strike.

But money aside, the contract includes symbolic victories as well. In addition to guaranteed parking fees and access – surely our student representatives could learn a few things from union negotiators – the deal would provide retroactive pay for this year, raise the minimum wage for food workers and provide for paid education leave.

Though it lacks the desired step system backed by the union, the deal is surely as good as workers can ask for in light of the university’s current budget mess. It is certainly better than the deal the majority of the UC community has seen in recent years.

Now, all service workers have to do is vote “”yes”” on the deal, and they certainly should. Rejecting the offer in hope of more concessions down the line would be both naïve and greedy.

Until 2008, the union’s current contract with the university is as good as it can get. And perhaps by then we’ll have a governor who is more amenable to providing the university with the funds it needs to pay truly livable wages.