The Oberlin Review
<< Front page News September 17, 2004

OCOPE does stand unitedTo the Editors:

In response to the article “OCOPE Members do not stand unanimous,” you thought by not signing your name, people wouldn’t know who you are. It wasn’t hard to figure it out! Just keep in mind when you’re feeling like you don’t have respect from fellow union members, you did it to yourself.

I don’t recall anyone standing up in our meetings and giving our “leadership” a lesson on “good negotiation skills.” What I always see and hear in our meetings are members supporting our leadership and each other. If an employee chooses to resign from the union, that is his or her freedom of choice, but it doesn’t give anyone permission to write an article of lies and misinformation: “30-40 percent of OCOPE members were dissatisfied with the way the negotiations are proceeding.” Did you take a survey to get that percentage? The answer is no, you did not. Do you think you know 30-40 percent of members (that is 53-70 members) well enough to speak in their behalf? I don’t think so.

You stated that “sometimes we hear things from the administration that we should have heard from OCOPE.” You probably meant to say that because you don’t come to the meetings, you have to hear the information after the fact.

We do ask the College to treat us with respect and dignity. That is what we all give to the College, so why shouldn’t we expect it in return! As far as your comment about “put their interview suit on and try to find another job,” we happen to like being at Oberlin. Just because we are in negotiations for a contract doesn’t make us Oberlin haters! We are asking for an equal and fair contract.

We may not always agree with each other all the time, but we are united with what we want for an outcome. We stick together and fight for each other for the good of the all. We don’t just think of our own families, but the families of our union sisters and brothers. It’s called OCOPE and if you can only stand alone, than I suggest you do just that!–Judi DavidsonAdministrative Assistant
OCOPE member says OC tactics demeaning To the Editors:

This statement is in response to the letter mailed to my home from Oberlin College Human Resources explaining the loss of benefits that would take place if I decided to participate in a strike.

In addition to myself, this letter was addressed to my husband. I feel that this was a direct action of disrespect. I do not feel that I need the college to inform my spouse of my loss or change of benefits. That is my responsibility, and I will do it when and where I see fit. The time and place of this discussion should have been selected by me. Instead I came home from work to find the envelope opened on my kitchen table. I do not fault my husband for this. It was addressed to him.

One problem: there were mistakes in this letter. I had received a correction via an Oberlin e-mail from Mr. Watts that very day at 1:52 p.m. A correction notice was never sent to my husband. I was left to explain that on my own (Please note: my husband is behind OCOPE 100 percent and is an ATU member himself. Correspondence from his human resource office never comes addressed to me).

The receipt of this letter addressed to my husband was demeaning to me. I feel the College could have handled this in a better way, with at least sending a letter without errors. Maybe if they used their time more effectively negotiating, they would not have to send letters to my home at all.–Jackie FortinoAdministrative Assistant
Negotiator for OCOPE lashes out at dissenters To the Editors:

OCOPE members do not stand unanimous? Excuse me – I feel compelled to address the gutless women that “expressed their frustration at the union leadership’s rejection of a contract that they feel is reasonable.” How dare you judge this union’s leadership and then not have the ovaries to put your name to it. Have you spent the hours at the negotiations table or participated in the solidarity events on this campus? No, you are the type to sit back and damn us for our efforts, but are never willing to put up the fight.

As far as the “lack of communication between the union leadership and members,” updates are given on a regular basis at the monthly meetings and at most all of our solidarity events. There were many opportunities for updates, but you chose not to participate. Have you ever thought of picking up the phone and contacting a board member instead of management for information? The administration continues to send out inaccurate information. How naive are you?

Let me suggest to these nameless women that they refresh their math skills before putting on that interview suit. Five of you do not equal the 30 to 40 percent of OCOPE members that you claim are unsatisfied with the way negotiations are proceeding. Although you may be satisfied with an unfinished contract, the overwhelming majority of our members are not.

I am glad to be a part of this union because I understand what it means to be a union member. When I negotiate, it is for every single union brother and sister, not just one. Solidarity will remain!–Tracy TuckerOCOPE negotiatorAdministrative Assistant
Worker decries anonymous naysayers To the Editors:

I am dismayed at the union members who want to chastise other union members because they want to fight for decent health care. One of these members who stated that she wanted out of the union does not have to worry about healthcare or tuition remission because her husband is a professor at the College. Also, another member unhappy with the union is a single person with no children. She is also a favorite of management in Development, so she is more inclined to side with management on these issues. I can bet that these two individuals, if they did leave the union, would have escalating health care costs with no union protection and would be running back to the union asking for protection. My philosophy is: if you want out, don’t think about coming back.

Everyone in America should have the right to affordable, decent health care. I believe that a 90/10 policy is reasonable, but I do not think it is reasonable to make the lowest paid employees of the College have to pay more for healthcare by making their spouses get single coverage with their employers. I am single and have no children, but I am not just thinking about myself. There are many union members who would not be able to make house or car payments if forced to pay for their spouses’ healthcare. Unlike the top-level management who make six figure salaries, we have many bills and little money. If this health plan gets accepted, it could mean that a union member would have to make the choice of buying groceries or buying medicine. Also, it is not fair that the college pays 50 percent tuition remission for other unions and professional staff on campus, but OCOPE members only receive 20 percent for their children. OCOPE is made up primarily of women, and I view this act by the college as sexual discrimination.

We are all entitled to our own opinions, and I believe that those individuals who want out of the union should leave. Just don’t cry wolf later.–Rachel Fellenstein Departmental Assistant
 
 

   

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