UAW says "YES!"

Members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union over-whelmingly passed a new contract today after months of negotiation. The vote was 92 in favor and five against.

The new three-year contract includes pay increases of 3.5 percent in the first year and 3 percent in the two years that follow.

Union workers within Campus Dining Services (CDS) have been working without a contract since June after the previous three-year contract expired.

The UAW is a national union whose Lorain County local represents the majority of CDS workers and some custodial employees on campus.

The approval decision comes on the heels of a week of student support for the UAW workers. Students formed a group called Students for Just Contract (SJC), to assert their support for the UAW.

SJC questioned Marriott's dedication to organized labor and brought their concerns before President Nancy Dye in the form of a petition signed by over 400 students and faculty. "I am very aware of Marriott's [anti-union] reputation," said Dye.

"We just wanted to register our concern with [the administration] to let them know that we are all paying attention," said SJC steering committee member senior Sara Marcus.

Assistant to the President Diana Roose denies that Marriott has treated its workers unfairly, a complaint which has been at the heart of student concerns regarding CDS. She feels that Marriott has been successful in handling the extraordinary responsibility of running CDS.

The background of the current contract standoff extends back to July of this year. In the midst of frustration about the contract negotiations the local UAW workers voted to authorize a strike on July 31, but union leaders have not called a strike.

On Sept. 1 one contract proposal was voted down by UAW workers. A stipulation in the contract gave union members the pension they had initially requested, but further review by a union representative revealed that the pension was only valid under a four-year contract.

The UAW had requested a three-year contract so as to remain synchronized with the other three unions on campus. Both student groups and union members were surprised at this attempt to desynchronize the different contracts, stating it is a subtle but common method of diluting union power.

The contract was sent back to the bargaining table, and the new contract was voted on today.

The employment situation for CDS workers is complicated by Marriott Corporation and temporary workers. CDS workers are employed by the College, but managed by Marriott Corporation. All managerial positions are staffed by Marriott workers.

Some CDS workers are either temporary workers or substitute and are are not covered by the contract. They are hired on a day-to-day basis by Marriott. Temps and subs, as they are commonly known, are not protected by the shield of unionization. They are generally given no more than minimum hourly wage and provided with none of the benefits earned by their unionized co-workers. Part of the new contract protects those workers who are now temporary.

There is disagreement between the administration and union members about whether temporary workers are hired through temporary agencies. Roose said she thinks Marriott does not hire through agencies. Union members, however, said agencies are often used to recruit new temporary workers.

Two current union workers, who preferred to remain anonymous, support the proposal to unify union and non-union workers. They believe temps do the same work as union workers and deserve the same salaries and benefits.

Administration entertains student concerns: Assistant to the President, Diana Roose, heard concerns from students for a Just Contract in the form of a petition with 400 signatures. (photo by Heidi Good)