Though many student employees within Associated Students UCLA may be eager to create a new union for student workers, the formation of a union will only have deleterious effects on ASUCLA and the greater student population.
The ASUCLA board of directors issued a statement Friday asserting its neutrality on the matter. Its meeting earlier that day came to an abrupt end after demonstrators refused to leave during executive session, which is closed to the public.
Demonstrators demanded an immediate decision on whether a union was to be formed for students, but the board chose to adjourn the session to discuss the matter elsewhere.
While it was deceptive for the board to declare the session adjourned and reconvene in a new location without telling anyone, the demonstrators’ logic ““ and actions that followed ““ do not make any sense.
It is understandable that student workers would be vocal about seeking benefits for their work ““ such as increased wages and better complaint procedures ““ which they assert are not currently equivalent to that of unionized, non-student workers within ASUCLA.
But even if the unionization of student workers could have some positive effects, primarily increased wages, there are a variety of foreseeable problems if the union were to achieve its goals.
Maybe the most pressing issue would be how wage increases would affect the financial status of ASUCLA.
These would be taken from ASUCLA’s budget, which has already been bailed out once by students through the passage of the SAFE referendum in 2005. And the referendum, which progressively increases student fees over time, specifically stated that one area of focus for the increased fees would be student-employee wage adjustments.
At the time, a model forecast anticipated the bankruptcy of ASUCLA by 2013-2014, only to be prevented through a fee increase.
If a union were to force wages to increase even higher, this added financial strain could spell the end of certain student programs or an increase in prices at ASUCLA stores and restaurants.
In addition, the increase in wages disallows ASUCLA from employing many more students. To those students seeking work at any of ASUCLA’s enterprises, students supporting unionization might seem selfish.
Student jobs at ASUCLA are intended to be part-time and short-term. If employees are getting upset because they are straining to support themselves on these wages, they should consider looking for work elsewhere.
This is especially true when considering the fact that ASUCLA limits student employees to 20 hours of work per week. There are certainly local employers who would pay at least comparable wages and allow for student workers to work longer, if they need to support themselves.
Moreover, if student workers seek to advocate unionization effectively, there is no reason for them to conduct themselves in the manner they did on Friday.
About an hour after the public board meeting had adjourned, students eventually took to marching up to ASUCLA Executive Director Bob William’s office, writing juvenile and insulting phrases on his whiteboard and tampering with belongings on his desk and in his office.
Unionization is a serious process, and student workers should consider their actions and possible ramifications as such.