Non-student employees demand unionization

By Christina Jenkins
Daily bruin contributor
[email protected]

About 25 students and American Federation of State, County, and
Municipal Employees members showed up at the Chancellor’s
Office around noon Wednesday without an appointment, calling for
the inclusion of non-student Associated Students of UCLA workers
into the service workers’ union.

The workers have been working through a temp agency since 1995
with low salaries and no benefits, union members said.

Unionization would ensure greater bargaining power and increased
benefits for employees, according to unionization advocates.

The ASUCLA Board of Directors will decide if they will accept a
card check ““ by which all employees interested in forming a
union with AFSCME sign cards showing their intent ““ by the
union in a special meeting Friday.

Under the request, if a majority of the employees show they want
a union, ASUCLA would have to recognize that decision.

Chancellor Albert Carnesale was in another meeting when the
group entered his office, but his office confirmed that the issue
is a “top priority” and assured members that it would
give him their message.

“UCLA adheres to the principle that its employees should
be treated fairly in all respects, including the right to
organize,” Carnesale said in a statement later that
afternoon.

Carnesale will ask the University of California Office of the
President to begin “immediate discussions” with AFSCME
to explore options for ASUCLA workers, the statement said.

Prior to their stop in Murphy Hall, the group distributed flyers
at the Cooperage and in Ackerman Union to garner support for the
workers.