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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 30, 1982)
Tuesday, March 30, 1982 Eugane, Oregon Oregon daily Volume 83 Number 119 emerald What — j already? Photos by Bob Baker ' It these classes were among the ones you wanted, keep looking. Meanwhile, the Guide is available around campus, as spring term registration continues today. (Related story, page 6) Librarian files grievance over day off By Debbie Howlett Of ttf Em»rmfd A classified staff member has filed a grievance against the University because administra tors required classified staff members to take Dec 24 off According to plaintiff Becky Bragg, an administrative assis tant in the inter-library loan department, losing the suit could lead the way for University or personnel administrators to reduce classified salary bud gets through furloughs, without reopening a recently negotiated contract She filed the suit on her behalf as well as all other affected em ployees, Bragg says, because "management’' forced clas sified staff to take a day off dur ing Christmas break while the University was closed due to financial difficulties Bragg, who also is the former head of the local affiliate of the Oregon Public Employee’s Union, went to Portland on March 18 for an arbitration hearing She says she isn’t sure the hearing will help the OPEU “I don’t think the hearing was favorable to us because of the conversation at the table,” Bragg says “I didn't come away feeling very positive," The arbitrator has 30 to 60 days in which to make a ruling, she says Bragg filed the grievance Dec 17, a week prior to the actual day off "We had what was termed Governor's Day where we had a holiday before or after Christ mas or before or after New Years Day," she says "Man agement came back and said we re going to be closed the day before Christmas — you can use your Governor's day, your vacation or personal leave "In essence they were forcing us to use a holiday or comp time because they were going to close the University," Bragg says. "It didn’t give us a choice — they said it was for financial reasons.” The implication of a ruling from the arbitrator that favors "management" is that the University would be able to use furloughs as a means of reduc ing salary costs to meet projected deficits, she says "There is some concern in how the arbitrator will rule,” says Jack Steward, director of personnel services for the University "We feel that we have done exactly what the contract permits." Bragg says that the contract the OPEU ratified this summer prevents the University from us ing furloughs and layoffs as a way to cut the budget "At the bargaining table (this summer) we asked that it not be used, especially in higher education, for economic crises," she says "Our contract states that the temporary inter ruption of service clause is to be used for extreme or unusual circumstances or a lack of work.” When administrators asked for the extreme or unusual cir cumstances clause it was in case water pipes broke, or that a snow storm — such as the one that hindered winter term regis tration — forced the University to shut down, Bragg says. "We were told that those were extreme or unusual circum stances,” she says “One of things that has to be recognized when you’re talking about a temporary furlough is whether or not it can be used for economic means," Bragg says. Muriel Jackson, an assistant for administration in the pres ident’s office and the Universi ty representative in the suit de clined to comment on the suit until she had a confirmation that she would not be violating unfair labor practice laws. With four more days to file, 30 ASUO ballot slots empty As of Monday afternoon, only five persons had filed for the approximately 35 positions in this year's ASUO elections Filing opened March 12 and will close Friday at 3 p.m. Primary elections will be held April 14 and 15, with any possible general elections scheduled for April 21 and 22 Candidates for ASUO President are Jeffrey Houston, a senior majoring in Russian, and Sheila Schain, a junior majoring in business. Houston was unavailable for comment Monday Schain, nominated to the Incidental Fee Committee Monday by ASUO Pres Rich Wilkins, says she will withdraw her filing for the pres idency Three candidates have filed for the seven position Incidental Fee Committee Running are Alan Contreras, ASUO vice president of program administration and a senior in political science; Robert Mead, a sophomore majoring in computer and informa tion science, and Devin Waite, a sophomore in business. Contreras, who will attend the University law school next year, says he is running because "I enjoyed being on the IFC. I’d enjoy being on the IFC again.” He says, however, that he is unsure of his plans and may withdraw his filing document. Mead and Waite were unavailable for com ment Monday. Lori Kleinsmith, a freshman majoring in Eng lish, so far is the only candidate for the Student University Affairs Board. Kleinsmith, an incum bent, is running for position 15. Kleinsmith says she is running because she ‘‘is interested in student government” and because “it’s a chance to get experience.” "I just want to get involved,” Kleinsmith says.
