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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 13, 1995)
EDITORIAL Avoid strike, work to pass pay raise University union workers are threatening to strike and every student, faculty and staff member should be worried. Imagine no cooks in the cafeterias and dirty dorm halls. What if this campus lost all its public safety offi cers? How would you foe! if you walked into Oregon Hall and there was no one there to help you? The term “Oregon Hell’* would 1ms redefined. The 1.100 or so Oregon Public Employees Union members at the University are fed up with pay cuts and unsettled contracts. If the state doesn’t act quickly, students may lose several critical services. These union employees aren't the heralded profes sors or babied administrators the University caters to. They are the unsung heroes who are responsible for the every day operation of the University — cooks, physical plant workers, custodial workers, public safe ty officers. Oregon Hail workers and other support staff. Without them, the University could almost reac h a state of emergency. A 17,000 population mini-city can't operate by itself. About 200 people rallied in front of Johnson Hall Wednesday to warn state officials about the possibility of a strike. Students, faculty and administrators must pay attention to rallies like these They need to under stand the struggles of OPEU members and realize the impact a strike could have on this University. Any one who attends, works at or visits the University will be affected. Although a strike would ho tragic, it's understand able why those employees are angry: Union members worts unable to negotiate a t>,5 percent pay raise with the state They aren’t being greedy; they just want compensa tion for on increase in cost of living. They have suf It;rod a pay freeze for the past two years and nml to make up for inflation. Luolla Nelson, a fact finder hired by the state and the union jointly, found that state employees were on til loti to a G.5 percent by April 1. However, the state rejected those findings. Union and state negotiators have been trying to develop a ( ontrnct since July but negotiations have not Occurred in weeks, It's time to start talking again. Governor Kitzhaber and other state officials need to take these workers off the back burner The state should make every effort to settle with the union mem bers in order to avoid a disastrous strike. If workers are forced to strike at their meeting April 19, the earliest the strike could begin is May 6. The University would bo preparing for graduation and fall term registration and could not afford to lose these val ued workers. Spring is undoubtedly the busiest time for this campus and it would not be able to handle the workload if employees step out. Unless you want to clean the dorm showers or cook surprise casserole, support the union members and hope a strike can be avoided. r Oregon Daily ooi m* fuGtNc Th* OtpQrt fitly f it puW«*b<*d d*#y MfcxxJay Itwoufl^ * rid*y Ckjftng the fccf*ocX r«ar and T ,*a»ckiy and Tbiy wU> during the Mnmtr by fbe Oayon (>**y t m«w *i t*ubk»r*ng Co . Inc a* the Ufwartfty o* Oagon I uoana. Oagon T h# f /ni»»(i*iJop<waim 4>0flp«r>d#ttttv o< tf*a l.M-vw «*y «**h o«<«* &< Su4t XX) o* »>• I ft) Uamcx^ Union and <* a manba o-l the A.m*x ***»»• TN» fmeetid it pnvam ptoparty Tha <amova< or u*a oi papot n prc*acuiabi# by U*» EcMor-m-CMtf. K*y Sc*o mmr\rng*i\at.cmot Editor** Editor Hum Art Editor fr—kmncm Editor t rx>rn fV«*o I Wvm V* PftMl) loo (tartnw^ coww nawaj Sports Editor Ovt» Unt/ Supplsmsots Editor Tf*u Nos* M^ht Editor Ksfy Solo Assoclata Editors Amv Colombo StuMnl Actvtifm UsicSms I ihsm Cmwoott CoSaan Potig laynar f lAirolswAJrM IISS adrvi Naas Slaft Slava Aibury ftagma tVooav llas.-idy Conroy. Amy t Deranport. P-rano t oman*, i'asyla formal-.. Mat Qanor. Jm Harwood Ki* H«r<ry. Timor Kaarnay Slwwxjn K*>u« Adan Arra-nar Nanweai Marti- M«r Mtt.la Mart t* Tyia •‘abtt Mmcrd. tin- Mootaua. Nairn Mor-Ajornary. Ann* Moaar KomSaid Snaaty (Way Nataarva SnayTyarO Pari Van Sckla. Saar Smart Mamma SWAar Mara Sima. >aramy Sarwon, Kan *mu fVtar Womat*. Las ;«u« General Manager *h n»1 Advertising Director Mart Warm Production Manager IAt«ee Host Advertising Ann* Amador A-rt# Boryaes Mario CNng, Tony Fox. NcoW iterimet K«e> Iron, Jeremy Mason Saur- Mich**. Tom Unrvttan* Koiaey Weses CtauMed: !V»», Merchant Mj Kyte Dart* Joe Sa*en Dr*tnbutton: John Long, t arera Rakoctt Graham Srmpaon (to tinea* Kathy Carton#. StctrrvtKv Judy Conrtoay Production Debi-a kACobti. Pr<xArrt>ort Coor.anaror Shaena Abate. Tea CiauHnay. Brad tt M-*. M *.'.cM Jen <• Hum •! .1,*. . Ye* Hnwoom Ekj*irv«*i Omcm msw Advwvatng OiulIM Adv*rttmMg — MMM) ■mo—•»•'*»**•«» I WAW lb UNW .RINHV.THH KAMIKAZE KEEPS QRCUNd W»ORCllHfi.. Congress ■ LETTERS Write in To all who will listen Friends, we approach a cross roads Siih c the Itegiiunng of time, student nits lions have present - ail us with several < andidates Unfortunately, knowledge of the candidates is universally minimal Hence, a winner ■ indistinguishable from the oth ers will win after only 10 jwn ent of the electorate choos es to vote The other 00 per cent. in their absence, send a clear but unheeded message to student government "We don't care who wins and we won't pretend we do They all suck " Finally, an alternative to this expression of apathy arrives. Instead of not voting, students are encouraged to send a mes sage by writing in Drew Mirante for Student Senate seat number Hi. A vote for Drew is a vote for apathy In the rate Iart ween Tweodle dee and Tweedle-dumb, we urge you to vote for Tweedle dumber. Mirante is supported in full by the International Write In Drew Mirante Alliance Unlike the other candidates, Mirante will not make generic, vague promises to improve this University. Instead, he offers the following concrete plat form. If this Contract with the University is not fully imple mented within too days, he will resign from his position and pas* the toni) on to some one even less capable • Optional fees and optional tuition. Two ideas whose times have come. • The hells atop the KMl! will perform AC/DC's "Hell’s Bells" ever)- hour, on the hour. • The University's motto of mens agitat molem will be changed to semper ubi sub ubi • Destroy the Empire and support the rebel alliance. Also, ensure that Captain lanuway and her crew return safely to Alpha Quadrant, • Lap City for the football team • Increased exposure for stu dent streakers. • The practice of filing paperwork to declare a major will be replaced by a barbaric yawp from atop PIT’. • In University dining. nachos at every meal. Upon Mirante's election, n \• • r11.i-S> 1«■ (.an of whoop .is-, will be opened upon government a* we know it The 90 pertent whoV" voidi has gone unheard for too long will finally he sounded from the rooftops of the world At the IVVIDMA, we feel your pain. Desperate tunes i all for die,|>erato votes And if you don't vote for Mirante. someone else will Drew Mirante Geology Luke Seemann Leisure Studies Missed point Prime Fontana's opinion pim «* of April 5, opposing the rally against the “(kmtract with Amor tea," totally missed the point Fontana falsely accused tho protestors of burning books, yet all that was burned was a single copy of the “Contract" symbolizing that they don’t want to lie bound by a contract that wasn't written with or for them Fontana also wrote that “obscenities blared" from the loudspeakers, that students were protesting just to protect and that there were "rabid accusations" of CIA involve ment in South America In the hour and a half that I sptm! at tho rally. 1 heard no more than one or two obsceni ties and the obvious emotion and dedication of the speakers convinced me that they cared about more than just protesting As for the CIA in South America, all I can say is per haps hopeful reporters like Fontana should read the news as well as report it. Paul Schroder Environments! Studies False image 1 would like to thank the Emerald staff for allowing the pro-life supplement to lie added to the March 10 edition of the newspaper One reason I came to this University was because of the diverse and accepting image it presents to the public. After arriving, I soon discovered that the image presented is false, that any conservative views are not represented fairly, or at all. Seeing the pro-life supplement gave me a sense of hope that the First Amendment is in practice and taken to heart It pleases me that it is, for once, nor forgotten when it comes to views which the majority of the University does not agree The pro-life supplement may have offended some people, but it was giving information concerning pro-life in a non violent manner (which is rare in recent times). Once again, thank you Democracy is in effect. Allison Stormo Journalism Political Science Get involved As a member of OSP1KG, 1 would like to let all University students know how easy it is to get involved with this group Getting involved is easy to do and the benefits are many Gist term I returned my general interest card (you may have seen these in your lecture class es) to OSPIRG and then made an effort to go into the office Since then. I have not only become a group member, but 1 am also the leader of the hunger and homelessness pro tect group Owing to the positive experience I have had with OSPIRG. I encourage any and all University students with interests in such things as activism, »du<.ation, leadership and simply making friends and (Tenting ideas to |oin GSPJRG. To "get involved," just take the initiative and iall 346-4377, or come by the office at Suite 1, EMU Dorothy Oppenheimer O SPIRO Commitment This letter is in response to the April 10 article on Chris kantrowitz and Niki Scott Although Scott has been involved in Greeks Against Rajie. her level of involvement in women's issues and societal issues leaves much to be desired. As a female student here at the University. 1 know that I want to be represented in
