Student workers vocalize desire to unionize, eliminate unfair discrepancies
By Anthony Pesce
June 6, 2007 11:02 p.m.
More than 30 Associated Students UCLA workers gathered Monday morning to protest what they called a lack of response from the university regarding their recent attempts to join a union.
ASUCLA student workers have been attempting to join the local American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFSCME, since March. The workers rallied across the street from the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center dedication ceremony, chanting their demands and marching for more than an hour.
Students and union organizers gathered Monday morning with signs, banners, a water jug used as a drum and makeshift shakers.
The noisemakers and signs, coupled with a bullhorn and chanting, created considerable noise outside the hospital unveiling, which included dignitaries Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former first lady Nancy Reagan, former Gov. Gray Davis and Interim Chancellor Norman Abrams.
“We are here as a group to demand unionization,” said Lizzy Keegan, a third-year sociology student.
“I think just having people out here makes this successful.”
Some of the signs read “our university,” “justice for student workers” and “make education accessible.” Protesters chanted slogans such as “who’s university? our university” and “we’re fired up, can’t take it no more.”
The ASUCLA board of directors has stayed neutral on the issue, and the workers say they have been trying to contact the UCLA Office of the Chancellor to no avail.
“We’ve been trying to contact the chancellor, and now we’re going to the hospital (unveiling) because we know he’s going to be there,” said Arely Ortez, a third-year sociology student.
In a letter written in May to Lakesha Harrison, president of AFSCME Local 3299, Interim Chancellor Norman Abrams outlined his position on the unionization, stating the university was legally obligated to remain neutral on the issue.
“For these reasons, I do not think it is appropriate for me to meet with AFSCME … or to agree to include them in your bargaining unit as you have asked of the ASUCLA board,” the letter read.
The student workers say they want to unionize because of a discrepancy in pay and benefits between student workers and the already unionized non-student employees.
“We do the same thing as career workers, but without the same benefits,” Ortez said, referring to lower starting wages and a lack of health insurance for student employees.
But the ASUCLA board of directors issued a statement calling the wages for student workers competitive and outlining certain benefits that are available to students, such as a discount on ASUCLA merchandise, workers’ compensation and vacation time.
“Any requests for modification of existing collective bargaining units, including but not limited to the addition of students, would require a decision by the State of California’s Public Employment Relations Board. … The final decision in the process would be honored by ASUCLA,” the statement read.
Harrison said she was at the protest to support student workers.
“I think it’s about equal pay for equal work,” she said.
“This is not fair to the students or the workers they work side-by-side with.”
