UAW happy with final contract

Members pleased with levels of student interest

Union workers within Campus Dining Services (CDS) are at last able to exhale.

CDS Union workers have been holding their breath since June, when their contract with the College expired. The long awaited three-year contract for unionized workers, who are members of the local chapter of the United Auto Workers Union (UAW), has finally been signed and settled.

UAW representative Barbara Walker has been negotiating the new contract with members of the College administration for three months. Those negotiations have been successful for both sides, with unionized CDS workers finally receiving a more equitable contract.

The new three-year contract provides a pay increase of three and a half percent in the first year and three percent in the two following years. It also draws many workers who were previously classified as temporaries under the shield of unionization, a factor which some feel will help to ease tensions in the working environment.

Previously, large numbers of temporary and substitute workers were without the health benefits and salary guarantees that the UAW demands for its workers. This inequality, despite similar job descriptions and working hours, was one of the major concerns that UAW representatives brought to the bargaining table.

College junior Tyler Moore feels that a lot of the issues were not thoroughly addressed but that workers are to a certain extent relieved by the results of the negotiations. "People are very happy to be working under a contract again," said Moore.

Walker seemed satisfied with Oberlin student involvement with the UAW contract. "It was significant that we raised awareness amongst students. This will help us a lot," Walker said.

Members of the former Students for a Just Contract committee (SJC) have expressed their concerns regarding the position of student workers within CDS. Like Moore, they feel that the College has been hypocritical in its declaration of supporting the interests of students by offering work-study packages as a part of the total financial aid award.

Some students feel that the College has worked to improve its labor-friendly image, despite its natural incentive as a private institution to make a profit. Although certain issues have been thoroughly resolved, there is a lot more in store for the coming year, according to involved students.

Moore feels that the work-study program, specifically within CDS, has merely resulted in the College's ability to acquire cheap labor. "Without [student workers], the school would be paying union workers $15 an hour, plus benefits. With us, they say 'Here, son, let us help you finance your education,'" said Moore. "To a huge extent, it is a premeditated attempt on the College's behalf to look good and make money at the same time."

This testimony echoes the feelings of many students who are struggling to make ends meet while balancing heavy academic and extra-curricular schedules. They feel that there is a massive gap between Oberlin's perception of labor and the way in which the workers see it.

So it appears that the International Socialist Organization (ISO), in cooperation with other labor-interest groups on campus, will have something to keep them busy over the course of the year. Administrators will take advantage of this pause of activity to catch their breath for the next wave of union activity.

You said cheese?: Members of the union that settled with the College last week. (photo by Pauline Shapiro)