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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 1987)
Editorial Strike gives union political victory The Oregon Public Employees Union brought the issues of its strike to the foreground when University employees walked out of their jobs Tuesday. The lack of experienced workers threatened to make registration disorganized and difficult. At a time when the University is facing the largest enrollment in its history, the thought of a rough registration panicked many students. But the strikers should not be blamed for any incovie nience. The University was a strategic location, and their voices were heard when OPEU and the state settled the strike on Thursday. These tactics and the use of the rolling strike helped to emphasize the importance of OPEU concerns. And although the settlement agreed to is not economically signifigant, workers came away from the strike with a political victory and a strong sense of unity. OPEU settled on a 2 percent wage increase retroactive to July with a 4 percent increase in lanuary 1989 even though it was asking for a 4.5 percent increase before the strike. The best gains were made in benefits for health coverage, pay equity and layoffs. An advisory committee also will be assigned to examine excessive workloads. Those are important issues and through its new-found strength, the OPEU was able to bring its propositions to the public. The strike and the slight inconvienienc.es it presented only helped to emphasize the necessity of state workers. At tin* same time, this need for state employees helped to bring the strike to a quick end. The nine-day strike was the first by state employees since they gained the legal right to strike in 1971. But the turnout of workers honoring the strike was HO to 90 percent in most locations, demonstrating the commit ment and togetherness of the employees for their cause. The concept and force of a union was exemplified dur ing the OPEL) walk outs. During the nine days of striking. OPEL! grew into a powerful force — one to Ik? taken seriously in the future. "I see OPEU coming of age, becoming a mature union,” Irv Fletcher, president of the Oregon AFL-CIO. told the Oregonian on Friday. This is the union’s most important gain: the ability and power to express its concerns. Before the strike, the state did not seriously consider the union's propositions and did not believe it would go on strike. Now OPEU has the political voice to use as a bargain ing tool if the need to strike ever arises again. Gov. Neil Goldschmidt expressed these beliefs to the Oregonian. "We will not wait for a bargaining period to pay attention.” he said. “I will discuss with our state managers the need to involve workers in those critical planning deci sions that deal with workload and other working conditions.” OPEU has blamed Goldschmidt for ignoring its requests despite his support for unions during his campaign. Fie has realized the strength of OPEU and will be more willing to listen in the future. Letters Holiday season "Tikeyah!" “Tiruah!” "Shivarem!" A ram’s horn echoes its shrill blast through Kugene's streets on this waion of Elul. a month of introspect ion, meditation, ami soul-searching preceeding It) days of Awe or High Holy Days and Sukkoth. the biblical fall harvest. The two major Jewish renewal celebratings are I’assover. which begins the tur ning outward of the year in spr ing and the High Holy Days, begining with Kush Hashanah. initiating a turning inward period of the fall-winter Kush Hashanah. the New Year, also called The Day-of Kemembrance commemorates the creation of the world and is symbolized by the scales of balance which we find ourselves upon at this time. Our task is to look at what is nut in balance in ourselves and the community and recognize places that need transformaton and turning, or Teshuvah. Yom Kippur. the Day-of-At One Ment. is spent in fasting. Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald la published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co . al the University of Oregon, Eugene. Oregon. 97403 The Emerald operates independently ot the University with offices on the third floor ot the Erb Memorial Union and is a member ot the Associated Press The Emerald Is private properly The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law General Staff Advertising Director Production Manager Classified Manager Assistant to the Publisher Advertising Sales: Teresa Acosta. Ten DeLossa. Tom Leech. Catherine lilja. Rick Marti. Laura McKinney. Heather Mull. Joann Nelson, Julie Paul, Bar bare Rogers. Scott Thorkildson, Joan Wtldermuth News and Editorial MS&S11 Display Advertising and Business MS 3712 Classified Advertising MS-4343 Letter Perfect Oraphlcs SM-SS11 Production *3443*1 Circulation S36-S311 Susan Theien Michele Ross Kelli Mason Jean Ownbay Boring, Gary Editor Managing Editor Nawa Editor Editorial Page Editors Sports Editor Photo Editor Graphic Design Editor Supplement Editor Stanley Nelson Scott Maben Eden God bey Angela Mum/ 'Steven Hoenisch Aaron Knox Shu-Shing Chen Lorraine Rath Kelly Korteka Arts & Entertainment Editor H C, Hutto Night Editors Stanley Nelson/Michael Drummond Associate Editors Community Stephen Maher Higher Education.'Administration Michael Drummond Student Government /Activities Carolyn Lamberson General Assignment Entertainment Will Holbert Reporters: Craig Hams. Gary Henley. Andrew LaMar. Jett Morgan. Ingrid Petersen. Cami Swanson. Kelwin Wee Photographers Sberlyn Bforkgren, Andy Cnpe. Derrel Hewitt. John Glustina. Tim Jones. Bobbie Lo. Dan Wheeler. Michael Wilhelm Production: Sandra Dailer l Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandre. Ronwm Nicole Ashton. Virginia Baniaga, Stephanie Drynan. Dolores Ferreo. Shannon Gaither. Lisa Haggerty. Stephanie Holland. Oierdre Kelly. Eliot Knight. Jung Lee. Bobbie Lo. James Mason. Angie Muni/, Ted Shepler. Lisa Svanevik, Ingrid White, Kelli Williams. Serena Williams. X. Kang Xie prayer and meditation, where we revision our life’s path and directions. We look ut our con nections to the social-political world and affirm our respon sibility to bringing the vision of clarity and caring into our ear thly realm. The High Holy Days prepare us for the fall harvest festival, Sukkoth. Having faced our "shadows" and done inner cleansing, we bring our offer ings and reside in booths (reminding us of life’s imper manence). pray for winter’s rain and celebrate in joy. apprecia tion and thanksgiving. America’s Thanksgiving derives largely from the Pilgrim celebration of Sukkoth. Consult Oregon Daily Emerald's classified ads for schedule of services at the University. Rabbi Hanan Sills Eugene Be individuals This summer, I assessed the reasons for my letters and their effects. I’m accused of being in flammatory. I’m perceived as rude and inconsiderate toward a large section of the University students. My editors feel that my satirical form of writing is now more black humor. It's too realistic; people no longer laugh at themselves, and hence miss the point and won't change their offensive behavior. I'll eradicate in myself what bothers others. 1 would like to extend my condolences to all bartenders in l,ane County. I was a bartender this summer and 1 saw college kids o’plenty and they 're asses Just because they spend money, they feel they can treat you like manure. The Greeks are the worst. Not only are they asses, but they also get a rubber nipple off beer and their swinging pool sticks They bitch, moan and pound on the bar until helped. (Not all do. though.) Advice to new students: While looking at the various houses, check into their racist backgrounds. Why they really do charity work. Ask about other miscellaneous social re quirements. These re quirements might exclude peo ple on the basis of skin or status, and might one day even force you to act like an ass. Don't ex pect them to volunteer this in formation. They don't bend over and show these dirty and smelly habits at first. Therfore, watch them closely for a term and you will see the cracks in their seams. To Buffy and Skippy already in the system, you don’t have to have the same clothes, haircut and nose job to fit in. Wake up! This is America. Break the mold. Be individuals. Blake Louis Sliter Political science/EngIi*h Letters Policy The Emerald will attempt to print all letters con taining fair comment on topics of interest to the University community. Letters to the editor must be limited to 250 words, typed, signed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is turned in. The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style. Letters to the editor should be turned into the Emerald office, Suite 300. EMU.
