▼ EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
Sarah Kickler
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Police should
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■ OUR OPINION: TheJunel incident
deserves investigation and police only
look worse by hindering efforts
We’ve had it. We wanted to give
Eugene police the benefit of
the doubt. We considered the
possibility that their actions
in the June 1 “incident” were justified. We
contemplated the possibility that when po
lice refused to talk, it was an indication of
long-standing problems with management.
But now even police supervisors are refus
ing to talk, and we think it’s ridiculous.
On June 1, mistakes were made. The
biggest one was made by Vicki Elmer and
the city, deciding to cut down the trees
without adequate warning or room for com
ment. In her handling of this and later tree
incidents, Elmer has made it clear that, for
her, community response means we nod
our heads while she tells us what to do.
This isn’t the fault of police, who were
put in the unfortunate position of protecting
a poorly thought out city action from a
group of justifiably irate protesters.
However, at this point things get very
ugly.
It may be that the protest got out of hand.
Many of the people involved have very
strong opinions about trees and greenspacess
and they tend to be very emotional about
chainsaws. Frustrated by a situation where
they had little power, the people on the
scene probably lashed out with unreason
RDie iorce.
Unfortunately, the police lashed back.
By spraying protesters with mace and
pepper spray and possibly using physical force the
police made an even bigger mess out of the situa
tion. Of so it seems.
Past experience with Eugene police and their re
lationship to the community makes it seem likely
the police got a little carried away. We live in a town
divided between a very radical element and a very
traditional, socially conservative core. Police have
usually defended that core.
This is not the only situation where police ac
tions have seemed unreasonable. Earlier crack
downs on 13th Avenue have selected people for
“attention” because of traits associated with an al
ternative lifestyle.
Many of these policies were initiated by the city,
but when the city council closed the park on 14th
Avenue and banned dogs and skateboards, the po
CHRIS HUTCHINSON/Emerald
lice didn’t refuse to enforce the law. They didn’t
call the proposals “offensive” and “insulting.” And
they didn’t blame the city. They appeared glad to
have the increased power.
Now, however, when their actions are being chal
lenged by an external investigation, they refuse to
comment, complain about the investigation and
blame Elmer and the city for their actions.
Police complain that the investigation is criminal
in nature. Well, it should be. If accusations of police
brutality are true, they deserve to be responded to in
a legal manner. When the city arrests protesters,
they are sent through the court system.
It’s entirely possible the police are not at fault, or
that their actions were justified and legal. And it is
true the police and firefighters are not obligated to
talk to investigators.
However, if police want to uphold their inno
cence, they should be willing to talk to investiga
tors. If the violent police response was called for,
they ought to be able to explain why.
An effective relationship between the police and
the community relies upon accountability. Citizens
expect that, if they are held to the law, police well
be as well. By refusing to talk to investigators, po
lice are sending the message they are not bound by
laws after all.
The June 1 protest stemmed from poor relations
between the city and the community. We can ex
pect further tension unless the police and the city
prove willing to improve those relations by being
open and answering questions posed to them.
This editorial represen tsthe opinion of the Emerald
editorial board. Responses may be sent to ode@ore
eon.uoreeon.edu.
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Work to strengthen labor unions by supporting strike
We are frustrated by the strike
by Teamsters against the
United Parcel Service. Frus
trated by hospital supplies
than can’t get where they need to go. Frus
trated by the loss of business for many
small companies that rely upon shipping.
Most of all, we are frustrated because
every day, we have to watch a bunch of
smug people sit on television and tell all
about how inevitable the situation was and
how little they can do to resolve it.
It’s high time someone got angry and did
something. The management of UPS must
suffer.
That’s right. We wish the UPS strike did
n’t have to take place, and we blame man
agement for the entire situation. Instead of
focusing on the “suffering” caused by the
strike and mixing in shots of angry union
leaders — thus implicitly placing blame on
the Teamsters — like the rest of the media,
we think it is important to understand the
crucial issues at play in this strike.
Above all else, we think it is important to
support labor. Business has only gotten
bigger over the last couple decades, and in
creasingly powerful companies continue to
abuse workers in the United States and
abroad.
Unions represent a critical check against
this oppression. The organization of labor
might not be the key to socialist revolution,
but it is certainly the most effective way for
workers to ensure the system functions.
Labor can only be strong if people out
side the company support unions, howev
er. Instead of racing to sign on as scabs for
UPS, other workers should think about
what it takes to have a good relationship
with your employer. If we don’t support
the Teamsters in their struggle against
UPS, who will support us when we are
abused by another big company, too
wrapped up in profits to worry about its
people?
Not only should we not go to work as
temporary employees for UPS (should they
begin hiring) but we should also uphold
the picket lines. The U.S. Postal Service is
a viable alternative to the private shipping
company. If you have to send something by
mail, do so through some other company.
Try to avoid using a non-union firm, of
course.
Finally, President Clinton needs to let
the strike take place. People who are call
ing for intervention are calling for the
death of labor. Not only should the govern
ment stay out of negotiations, but Congress
should have long ago passed a law prevent
ing companies from hiring permanent re
placements for striking workers.
The UPS strike is not just another oppor
tunity to support labor, however. It also il
lustrates one of the worst practices in busi
ness today. The Teamsters are upset in part
because of the high number of part-time
workers on the payroll.
Part-time workers allow a company to
pay fewer or no benefits to a large number
of their workers. In addition, part-timers
often have a harder time getting promo
tions, and are sometimes paid less. All this
allows companies to make more money.
At UPS, 58 percent of the work force is
part time. These workers are paid a base
wage of only $8 an hour, which hasn’t been
raised in 15 years. Worse, workers report
the company is reluctant to advance work
ers to full-time positions.
The UPS strike illustrates a sad trend in
America — the death of labor. Workers are
losing benefits, being paid less to work
harder. Real wages have dropped. An in
creasing number of jobs are part time, pro
viding no benefits and inadequate pay.
And, despite all this, people show little in
clination to support one of the best ways to
fight this, unions.
Supporting workers is crucial to check
ing the profit-oriented abuses of big busi
ness. The current strike is a perfect oppor
tunity to show your support. Obey the
picket lines. Blame management for the de
lays. And tell Clinton to stay out of the situ
ation.
This editorial represents the opinion of the
Emerald editorial board.