ASUCLA workers win social security dispute

Three Associated Students of UCLA workers who were on the brink
of losing their jobs Sunday will remain with the association,
according to a statement from the union that represents them.

As a result of an understanding between the university and the
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the
employees can continue to be ASUCLA workers, according to the
statement.

Though the means of the agreement cannot be disclosed due to
personnel reasons, AFSCME Organizer Grant Lindsay said the union is
pleased that the three individuals will remain employed.

The three employees who work in LuValle Commons and Taco Bell
were initially facing termination due to a discrepancy in their
social security numbers, according to a letter sent to the workers
on Oct. 17 by ASUCLA. This conflicted with the I-9 section of the
Employment Eligibility Verification form and the employees faced
dismissal from their jobs.

Union officials said a discrepancy with social security numbers
is not typically a basis for employment termination.

ASUCLA Executive Director Pat Eastman and Head of ASUCLA Human
Resources Lynn Thompson, who were present at the meeting between
administration and the union Friday morning, both would not comment
on the outcome of the situation, citing that it was a personnel
issue. However, Thompson did say that the employees were at the
meeting.

Members of the Student-Worker Front, who wrote a letter to
Chancellor Albert Carnesale asking for his help to stop the
termination, supported the decision.

“We’re happy, we got what we wanted in that these
workers weren’t fired,” said Seth Cohen, one of its
members.

In August, after months of negotiations with the union, ASUCLA
unionized 80 workers, giving them full career wages and
benefits.

According to AFSCME officials, the three newly-unionized
workers’ immigration status was never an issue with
ASUCLA.

“We don’t know their status, we don’t have the
right to know, but we know their papers are fine, and they’ve
worked for the university for many years,” Grant said.

Lakesha Harrison, president of AFSCME’s University of
California chapter, said the workers’ termination was based
on “No-Match” letters the employees received, notifying
them of the error in their social security numbers.

The Social Security Administration sends routine, annual
“No-Match” letters to employers notifying them when
there is a discrepancy with their employees’ social security
numbers. However, a “No-Match” letter from the
administration is not notification of any immigration or tax law
violation.