Citizens, union rally against concept of profit over people

By Luu Doan

When all is said and done, no one ““ no corporate suit, no
UC big-wig, no bureaucratic body ““ can stop the power of the
people. We’ve seen this to be true in popular movements
throughout history. Take Malcolm X and his leadership during the
Civil Rights Movement. Take Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, and
their fight for the United Farm Workers. Admittedly, there is much
injustice in the world. But as people, we can either swallow it in
helplessness or we can link arms and tear it down. The laundry
workers and medical records personnel of UCLA have proved this.

In November, the management of the UCLA Medical Center announced
its decision to close down the facilities and subcontract outside
agencies to fulfill these duties. As for the many workers who had
dedicated the majority of their lives to the function of these
departments, well, it was simply tough luck. Despite a history of
reliable service to the university, despite the families relying on
this income, UCLA waved goodbye to its employees, promising nothing
more than a small severance and a handshake.

But the people weren’t going to take it. Not only because
of their children’s mouths that needed to be fed, not only
because of their plans for a peaceful retirement, but simply
because they were human. And this meant that they deserved to be
treated as something more than a disposable economic resource. They
deserved respect, and they were willing to fight for it. Since
then, workers have been organizing, with the help of union
organizers from the American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees, to demand a stop to the corporate greed
spilling into this prestigious university.

It hasn’t been easy. Many workers were intimidated by the
strong anti-union sentiment in the workplace. House visits were
made and union meetings were held. Leaders of the organizing
workers were not only fighting against a system that wanted to take
away their jobs, but they were fighting to empower workers who
lacked the confidence to assert their rights. As their fight gained
more and more momentum, students got involved as well.

Student organizers began mobilizing their peers in support of
the workers. At the first action, a vigil held in front of Murphy
Hall, an eclectic mix of 70 students from various organizations
gathered with the workers to demand that UCLA, a first-rate
university, not become a third-rate employer. Every person present
made a difference. The next action was a demonstration held in
front of the medical center. Officials actually contacted the
AFSCME office and pleaded for organizers to cancel the protest. But
the workers, and all of us who fought alongside them, had no
intention of ceasing until our victory was assured.

And what a victory it was. The union has negotiated a tentative
agreement with UCLA. While the university will follow through with
closing down the departments, laundry and medical records employees
will not in any way lose their standard of living. In fact, it
could only improve.

UCLA officials agreed to no lost wages or benefits and
guaranteed job placement. This means that even if the university
takes its time finding new jobs for the workers, the paychecks will
not go away. Interviews will be conducted to assess the skills and
job history of the employees to make sure the jobs they are
transferred to are within the scope of their experience. Any
necessary additional training will be paid for by the university,
including English as a Second Language classes.

There is also the issue of casual employees. Many of the workers
are casual, which means they receive lower pay. Realizing that
these workers, who do the same job as career employees, should have
been promoted into career positions long ago, UCLA has agreed to
promote the casual workers to career status. Especially considering
the university’s stance on the issue last November,
it’s clear that a great victory has been won. Above all, we
gained respect.

In our society, the concept of profit over people is becoming a
sad reality. As a friend recently said to me, “(the race for
money) is taking the human out of humanity.” Yet, while the
beast of greed is powerful, we are not powerless.

Even at UCLA, we can bring about change. In November, the
livelihoods of 100 employees were in danger. But through a
coalition of workers, union organizers, students and concerned
citizens, we got the university to change its position. The
university was reminded of who exactly its workers are ““
human beings, not economic commodities.

Whether the battle is for equal rights for women or the
protection of “disposable” jobs for hardworking
employees, it is not only our right as individuals to defend what
is ethically right, it is our responsibility.