No progress was made in resolving the ongoing labor dispute between the Oberlin College Office and Professional Employees union and the College this week while inroads were made in renegotiating a contract with the United Auto Workers.

A strike by the members of the UAW, which represents service and maintenance workers, is highly unlikely to occur within the next two weeks.

However, members of OCOPE, which represents campus office and clerical workers, are still working without a contract meaning that they could strike at any time. A strike date has not been announced. It is customary for the union and College to engage in an intense round of bargaining immediately preceding a strike.

OCOPE members have been receiving conflicting messages from the College administration about the consequences of a strike.

A letter from Director of Human Relations Ruth Spencer, which was received by OCOPE members earlier this week, informed them that “separation from the College by way of a strike is equivalent to voluntary termination by the OCOPE member” and that failure to accept the College’s temporary insurance plan would “result in termination of your healthcare coverage.”

The letter went on to state, “If you choose to go on strike…please be aware that not only will your pay cease, but your benefits coverage, including standard College contribution benefits as well as group rate auxiliary benefits will cease.”

Several OCOPE members were particularly angered that the College addressed the letter to both employees and their spouses.

“That was the crystal clear moment that signaled the lack of respect,” one librarian said, noting that the majority of union members are women.

“Maybe they thought our husbands would talk us, their crazy wives, out of [resisting the contract].”

To clarify and confuse matters, the day after Spenser mailed the initial letter, an e-mail was sent to employees by Acting Vice President for Finance Ronald Watts. In his message Watts rebuked Spencer’s letter saying, “I believe some clarification is needed on several key points.”

Watts clarified that Spencer’s termination threat applied only to entitlement to pay and benefits rather than actual job termination.

He went on to say that health coverage would “NOT cease immediately upon a work stoppage.”

“It’s been shocking that these would be the tactics they would use,” the librarian and OCOPE member said.

While the College has not announced any plans to reopen negotiations with OCOPE, it did agree on Aug. 26 to provide answers to a list of questions compiled from a survey of OCOPE members.

On Sept. 7, the union received three documents containing answers to most, but not all of the questions.

“We are still waiting for answers to eight or nine remaining questions,” OCOPE President Diane Lee said “Our attorney has contacted the attorney for the College and asked that the information be sent as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile sources within the UAW have confirmed that the union has extended its contract by three weeks on advice from Solidarity House, the Detroit headquarters of the UAW international.

Vice President of College Relations Alan Moran told the Review that negotiations between the union and the College would resume during the week of Sept. 20, a development he described as “very good news.”

“I’m still optimistic we can find a resolution to settle our minor differences,” he said.

The UAW contract contains a strike clause prohibiting members from striking while the contract is in effect. This means that strikes cannot occur for at least the next two weeks.

Documents obtained by the Review this week show that the healthcare package offered to the UAW on Aug. 30 is nearly identical to that offered to OCOPE in terms of premiums and out of pocket expenses during the first two years. Both unions soundly rejected the College’s offer and have called healthcare the main sticking point during negotiations.