The union representing thousands of full-and part-time lecturers at the University of California has approved a new agreement, giving the nontenured teachers their first labor contract in more than three years.

Eighty-six percent of the 593 union members who cast ballots voted to ratify the three-year contract. The agreement -- already approved by UC officials -- takes effect today.

"The main thing is that we feel like this is a major leap in recognizing lecturers as professionals," said Kevin Roddy, president of the lecturers union and a medieval-studies lecturer at UC Davis.

Lecturers, often hired semester-by-semester or year-to-year, teach thousands of students every year at the eight UC campuses where undergraduates are admitted.

The union estimates that more than 2,700 lecturers teach one-third of the undergraduate courses. Roughly 1,000 lecturers are dues-paying members of the union.

"UC has a history of offering its lecturers virtually unmatched wages and benefits in recognition of the valuable contributions they make to the university," said spokesman Paul Schwartz in an e-mailed statement. " ... While negotiations took longer than we would have preferred, we're very pleased union members have voted to accept what we believe is a fair and balanced agreement."

Roddy said the contract's best feature is the job security it provides to more experienced lecturers. Those with more than six years at UC are guaranteed reviews every three years with the expectation of a continuing, three-year appointment.

Lecturers with less experience will still be hired on a year-to-year basis. But the new contract bars the university from laying them off as they near the six-year mark in order to hire cheaper replacements -- a process known as churning. The contract does include salary gains for those lecturers. The $27,000 starting pay will rise to $37,000 in 2005.

In 2004, six-year lecturers will receive a modest starting salary boost, to $41,000 from $40,000.

One of the union's major concessions was its agreement to include language in the contract that prohibits lecturers from staging sympathy strikes when other unionized employees at UC walk out. Roddy said union members would still honor picket lines.

Three years of contentious negotiations -- interrupted by strikes and charges of unfair labor practices from both sides -- ended in late May when the tentative agreement was reached.

UC officials also recently struck deals with other unions, including clerical workers and technical employees.