Grad union continues plans for walkout
University administration refuses to voluntarily recognize
SAGE
By Betty Song
The graduate employee union authorized a strike last week to
pressure the UCLA administration into voluntarily recognizing their
collective bargaining rights. Despite the measure, university
officials stand firm on the current decision of
non-recognition.
"Recognition is not negotiable," said Stanley McKnight, vice
chancellor for Campus Human Resources, upon hearing about the
organization’s actions. "The university doesn’t intend to
voluntarily recognize SAGE as an exclusive bargaining unit. It’s
neither necessary, nor desirable."
In a meeting last Thursday attended by about 300 members, the
Student Association of Graduate Employees (SAGE) passed a
resolution to elect a nine-person walkout committee with the power
to call a two-day strike during spring quarter. However, because of
an amendment added to the initial motion, the union must first
garner 1,000 signatures from union members who would agree to
participate in a strike.
As part of the motion, the walkout committee will continue
negotiations with the administration before calling for a strike
action. Even after hearing McKnight’s response, the committee plans
to continue its efforts to meet with university officials.
"We expected the administration to resist, and I can’t yet speak
for the whole committee because we haven’t met yet, but it’s
something we will be taking into account," said walkout committee
member Tim Hall.
"If we were in a factory or a warehouse, the mere fact that we
had collected enough signatures to (form a union) would mean our
employers would have to negotiate with (us) — it’s not clear why
our status should be any different when we’re asking for the same
rights and protections (granted to) employees in all
industries."
Based on the resolution, the committee can call a walkout after
April 2, but it can also choose to take less serious action than a
two-day strike. Other options include a one-day walkout, or another
teach-out similar to the one last month when graduate student
employees held office hours and classes outside in protest, Hall
said.
Presently, the administration bases its response on the lack of
a legal obligation to recognize the union, said Kathleen Komar,
associate dean of the graduate division.
"The one issue is recognition, and the university has made it
clear that the matter is in the courts whether they will be
eligible for collective bargaining rights," Komar said. "Voluntary
recognition is not something that the administration is willing to
do. SAGE has asked us before, but we will not voluntarily recognize
(them) because we think it has adverse affects on the educational
process."
Currently, a hearing pending in California’s Public Employment
Relations Board (PERB) will determine whether the administration
must legally recognize the union.
Last May, the relations board, an agency which interprets state
education and labor laws, certified the union as representing a
majority of UCLA’s academic student employees. This granted the
administration voluntary recognition rights.
However, the administration’s refusal automatically sent the
case back to PERB for further review. In this process, the board
decides whether or not the union adheres to the Higher Education
and Employment Relations Act, a state law which determines a
union’s collective bargaining eligibility.
"The matter is under litigation, so there are no further
deliberations on that issue," McKnight said. "They want voluntary
recognition (through the) walkout, but we don’t intend to do
that."
In spite of the administration’s decision to await a legal
ruling, members of the union emphasize the university’s voluntary
right. They cite the recent strike authorization vote as a stronger
means of gaining this type of recognition from officials.
"(Despite the) legal situation, it’s still within the
university’s right to recognize us voluntarily if they so choose,"
said walkout committee member Patrick Burns, "The ball is in their
court. I can see how in their perspective as managers of employees
that they wouldn’t want to (recognize a union), so they need added
public pressure," he said, adding that a walkout will gain more
public recognition of SAGE, and further escalate pressure on the
administration.
After being informed of the union’s decision to authorize a
walkout, some undergraduates faced the conflict of sympathizing
with the union while addressing concern for their own
education.
"It doesn’t surprise me (that they authorized a walkout)," said
third-year political science and English student Ingrid Moran.
"Their little logo ‘The university works because we do’ is true,
because if there weren’t any teaching assistants, what would
happen?
"(But) I wouldn’t want (a walkout) to happen, because it’s going
to affect (undergraduates) of course, but I understand why. It’s a
complicated situation with no easy answer," Moran added.
The walkout committee will meet tomorrow and make specific plans
to negotiate with the the chancellor for voluntary recognition. As
well, union members are preparing to gather the 1,000 signatures
needed to call a walkout.