EDITORIAL: Blind support of union irresponsible

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 Edward Chiao
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 Edward Chiao

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Students have long supported workers in their struggle for
better pay, benefits and rights. But what happens when the rights
of workers conflict with those of students?

The movement to unionize and secure benefits and wages for about
100 of the Associated Students of UCLA’s non-student workers
reached critical mass on Friday when the association’s board
of directors voted to urge the UC Office of the President to enter
into negotiations with the union. But amid the yells of protesting
students lies the dire cost of this action screaming to be
heard.

Securing benefits and wages for these workers could cost
anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million that the association simply
doesn’t have. This is going to lead to cuts in funding to
student programming, cuts to salary raises and possibly the
implementation of a student fee to subsidize these workers. On top
of this students in financial need may not be able to get a job
with ASUCLA since these workers, who were hired to fill short-term
vacancies in student positions, could get job security that fixes
the number of positions for students.

It’s clear that many of these workers have been working
full-time for several years in the absence of student demand for
these jobs, and that they deserve benefits, higher wages and job
security. But the students supporting the American Federation of
State, County and Municipal Employees, which is seeking
representation, shouldn’t allow themselves to be used by
union organizers claiming that this is a one-sided issue.

AFSCME’s leaders, despite the rhetoric, care very little
about the association. They’re playing for keeps, and while
that may be a necessary strategy when going against the UC system,
this is a non-profit, student-owned business and AFSCME’s
tactics speak to their disrespect for and misunderstanding of
students on this campus.

In the event of cuts to financial aid, which are likely given
the state’s financial situation, there would be an increase
in the number of students who need jobs to afford school. Without
the flexibility temporary workers allow ASUCLA, these students
wouldn’t even be able to get jobs in the organization, and if
a student fee is implemented to cover the cost, they would have to
pay even more money.

The association is supposed to be a cooperative run by students
to serve students. Traditionally, the business enterprises of the
association such as the student store were meant to fund student
services and programming. If these services and programs are cut
and a fee is implemented, the association moves further away from
its mission of serving students.

Currently, the undergraduate representatives on the board are
spearheading these changes. In going ahead with this blindly,
they’re shirking their financial responsibility and spending
student fees irresponsibly. It doesn’t help that the
association’s executive director, Patricia Eastman, admits
that she has done little to figure out how to pay for the cost of
unionization.

While ASUCLA has no formal authority in deciding what will
happen ““ that lies with UCOP ““ it’s not exactly
wise for the board to forge ahead blindly. Student autonomy
isn’t a right on this campus; it must be earned and used
responsibly. While the workers ““ not the union ““ should
be supported, this board must remember its financial and ethical
responsibility to students.