The campus United Auto Workers moved quickly to conduct a strike vote Thursday night amidst College assertions that the union’s overwhelming rejection of a proposed contract on Tuesday did not signal the collapse of negotiations. The College believes the situation is not as dire as the current bargaining with the Oberlin College Office and Professional Employees union, which is still in a deadlock.

“UAW reached a tentative agreement at the negotiation table,” Vice President of College Relations Al Moran said. The College and the union will be meeting again in the near future, he said.

The UAW has extended their existing contract for three weeks, Moran said. This contract includes a no-strike clause.

The members voted “yes” during the strike vote Thursday, giving the leadership authorization to organize a strike, according to local president Kathy Fenderson.

In many ways OCOPE is more stymied in contract negotiations than the UAW local.

OCOPE employees are currently working without a contract and have also discussed the possibility of striking. On Aug. 3, the College gave its “final offer” to the union. But union officials said that they “cannot and will not recommend this contract to the membership” in an open letter on Aug. 26. In the meantime, the membership voted not to vote on the contract on Aug. 10.

“It’s evident that the unions decided to stick together and stand together throughout the contract negotiations,” OCOPE Second Vice President Julie Weir said.

Workers at Verizon and other College bargaining units said that they would not cross picket lines if the UAW or OCOPE were to strike.

When asked about the UAW’s position in the case of an OCOPE strike, Fenderson said, “United you stand, divided you fall.”

OCOPE officials say that they have received support from national unions like the Teamsters, Communication Workers of America and members of the Lorain County AFL-CIO throughout the negotiations.

OCOPE called on the College to negotiate beyond their “final offer.”

“We want the College to come back to the table to finish negotiating in good faith,” OCOPE President Diane Lee said. “

OCOPE also claims that the College has altered and increased its demands mid-stream during negotiations, especially in regards to healthcare.

“You’re negotiating with a bunch of secretaries,” Vice President Tracy Tucker said. “We take excellent notes.”

Students are also getting involved in both labor standoffs. A rally is planned for Friday afternoon at 4:30 on Wilder Bowl in support of both unions. The Oberlin College Democrats, the Student Labor Action Coalition, the Oberlin Peace Activists League, the Radical Activists Coalition and the Socialist Alternative are organizing the rally.

OC Dems co-chair Renata Strause said the student-labor coalition formed spontaneously.

“It started as just the people who were standing outside Finney while the unions were picketing,” she said. “It’s great that student groups with very different views are coming together to support the unions.”

Strause said that Oberlin students need to take an active interest in the union’s cause.

“I think Oberlin students are very attuned to the world around them,” she said. “The people who make this school run are getting a bum deal.”

Others shared ther opinion as well.

“They’re completely in the shadows at Oberlin,” said Jeremy Chetrit of the Radical Action Coalition during a rally on Sunday. “They’re what makes this school work.”

While strike threats are used as a negotiation tool in contract talks, both the College and union members are bracing for the worst.

The College issued a letter to students’ OCMRs today stating that all College programs will continue operation in the event of a strike. Specifically, the letter stated that all faculty and students will be expected to continue to attend classes.

“The College has made plans to meet the needs of faculty, staff and students to the best of its abilities during this period,” the letter stated.

Human Resources Director Ruth Spencer also issued a letter to faculty urging them to “remain composed and civil” during a strike. It advises faculty and staff to avoid intimidating any picketers and acknowledges OCOPE’s legal right to strike.

Both unions seem determined to continue to work together as the conflict plays out.

“Our blue t-shirts, ‘United We Stand,’ I think that says it all,” Weir stated.