Card check bill could affect UC, union dealings

By Rachel Makabi
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF
[email protected]

The University of California may have to change the way it deals
with unions if a bill currently in the state Senate ““ which
would require the university to recognize card checks ““ is
signed by the governor.

Under a card check, if the majority of workers sign cards
stating their wish to form a union, the university would have to
recognize the decision.

Currently, when employees want to form a union, they must go
through an election and vote on the issue under state law.

Proponents of the bill say a card check would make it easier for
workers to unionize because it takes the opinions of every employee
into consideration instead of those who show up to vote.

Assemblywoman Sarah Reyes, D-Fresno, who introduced the bill to
the Assembly in January, said the UC tends to not negotiate
bargains or have union elections in good faith.

Last week, Chancellor Albert Carnesale issued a statement asking
the UC Office of the President to begin negotiations with the
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
AFSCME is also one of the sponsors of the bill.

Many Republican legislators, in addition to the UC, are against
the bill.

According to Peter DeMarco, press secretary of the Assembly
Republican Caucus, card checks have historically not reflected the
real opinions of workers. Card checks make it easier for workers to
be intimidated into making a decision, he said.

“It’s not that we don’t support unions; we
would just rather have a full formal election,” he said.

The UC also claims that card checks are unenforceable.

The UC will continue to follow current state labor laws under
the Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act, said UC
spokesman Paul Schwartz.

Willie Pelote, political and legislative director for AFSCME,
said the bill doesn’t go against the existing act, but amends
it to make it more effective.

Currently, card checks happen in the private sector, community
colleges and on the K-12 level, so there is no reason why the UC
should be exempt, Pelote said.

The card check dispute surfaced at UCLA a few weeks ago when
AFSCME asked the Associated Students of UCLA to recognize a card
check for campus workers.

Though Carnesale issued a statement asking UCOP to enter into
immediate discussions with AFSCME, the university never recognized
the card check.

Both AFSCME and the UC say they don’t think the situation
between ASUCLA and the union was a test case for the bill.

Still, for some, doubts linger.

“I never try to read someone’s mind,” Pelote
said. “But common sense leads us to think when you make a
decision when there is pending legislation, there must be a reason
for this.”

With reports from Sabrina Singhapattanapong, Daily Bruin
Contributor.