Grad union continues plans for walkout
University administration refuses to voluntarily recognize SAGE
By Betty Song
The graduate employee union authorized a strike last week to pressure the UCLA administration into voluntarily recognizing their collective bargaining rights. Despite the measure, university officials stand firm on the current decision of non-recognition.
"Recognition is not negotiable," said Stanley McKnight, vice chancellor for Campus Human Resources, upon hearing about the organization's actions. "The university doesn't intend to voluntarily recognize SAGE as an exclusive bargaining unit. It's neither necessary, nor desirable."
In a meeting last Thursday attended by about 300 members, the Student Association of Graduate Employees (SAGE) passed a resolution to elect a nine-person walkout committee with the power to call a two-day strike during spring quarter. However, because of an amendment added to the initial motion, the union must first garner 1,000 signatures from union members who would agree to participate in a strike.
As part of the motion, the walkout committee will continue negotiations with the administration before calling for a strike action. Even after hearing McKnight's response, the committee plans to continue its efforts to meet with university officials.
"We expected the administration to resist, and I can't yet speak for the whole committee because we haven't met yet, but it's something we will be taking into account," said walkout committee member Tim Hall.
"If we were in a factory or a warehouse, the mere fact that we had collected enough signatures to (form a union) would mean our employers would have to negotiate with (us) -- it's not clear why our status should be any different when we're asking for the same rights and protections (granted to) employees in all industries."
Based on the resolution, the committee can call a walkout after April 2, but it can also choose to take less serious action than a two-day strike. Other options include a one-day walkout, or another teach-out similar to the one last month when graduate student employees held office hours and classes outside in protest, Hall said.
Presently, the administration bases its response on the lack of a legal obligation to recognize the union, said Kathleen Komar, associate dean of the graduate division.
"The one issue is recognition, and the university has made it clear that the matter is in the courts whether they will be eligible for collective bargaining rights," Komar said. "Voluntary recognition is not something that the administration is willing to do. SAGE has asked us before, but we will not voluntarily recognize (them) because we think it has adverse affects on the educational process."
Currently, a hearing pending in California's Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) will determine whether the administration must legally recognize the union.
Last May, the relations board, an agency which interprets state education and labor laws, certified the union as representing a majority of UCLA's academic student employees. This granted the administration voluntary recognition rights.
However, the administration's refusal automatically sent the case back to PERB for further review. In this process, the board decides whether or not the union adheres to the Higher Education and Employment Relations Act, a state law which determines a union's collective bargaining eligibility.
"The matter is under litigation, so there are no further deliberations on that issue," McKnight said. "They want voluntary recognition (through the) walkout, but we don't intend to do that."
In spite of the administration's decision to await a legal ruling, members of the union emphasize the university's voluntary right. They cite the recent strike authorization vote as a stronger means of gaining this type of recognition from officials.
"(Despite the) legal situation, it's still within the university's right to recognize us voluntarily if they so choose," said walkout committee member Patrick Burns, "The ball is in their court. I can see how in their perspective as managers of employees that they wouldn't want to (recognize a union), so they need added public pressure," he said, adding that a walkout will gain more public recognition of SAGE, and further escalate pressure on the administration.
After being informed of the union's decision to authorize a walkout, some undergraduates faced the conflict of sympathizing with the union while addressing concern for their own education.
"It doesn't surprise me (that they authorized a walkout)," said third-year political science and English student Ingrid Moran. "Their little logo 'The university works because we do' is true, because if there weren't any teaching assistants, what would happen?
"(But) I wouldn't want (a walkout) to happen, because it's going to affect (undergraduates) of course, but I understand why. It's a complicated situation with no easy answer," Moran added.
The walkout committee will meet tomorrow and make specific plans to negotiate with the the chancellor for voluntary recognition. As well, union members are preparing to gather the 1,000 signatures needed to call a walkout.