Workers take on Oregon University System
■ Representatives from
different unions held a rally
Thursday to discuss problems
facing OUS employees
By Brooke Ross
Oregon Daily Emerald
Workers around the world unite.
Several speakers voiced that
theme during the United Labor for
Workers’ Rights Rally, held Thurs
day in the EMU Amphitheater.
The Service Employees Interna
tional Union/Oregon Public Em
ployees Union Local 503 sponsored
the event, which highlighted the is
sues in the contract renegotiations
currently in progress between the
Oregon University System and its
classified employees.
Dozens of people gathered at the
rally, including representatives from
the Human Rights Alliance, the
Graduate Teaching Fellows Federa
tion and a number of other groups.
Cheri Smith, a University under
graduate receptionist for the com
puter and information science de
partment and president of the
SEIU/OPEU Local 85 in Eugene,
said the OUS has been making
drastic proposals that would de
crease classified employees’ job se
curity. She said they want to in
crease layoffs, decrease overtime
pay and hire temporary workers in
stead of full-time employees.
“It’s a big issue nationwide,” she
said. “There’s labor struggles going
on all over Lane County right now,
and we’re trying to point out where
some of the struggles are.”
Smith said the OUS employs
more than 25,000 classified employ
ees, including workers in food serv
ice, accounting and health services.
She said those employees are bar
gaining with the OUS for working
*» «
.... I
Adam Amato Emerald
Two unidentified supporters, along with a number of others, sit in the EMU Amphitheater Thursday to watch the United Labor for Workers* Rights Rally.
improvements, such as reasonable
wages and fully paid health care.
“When you take one of us on,
you take us all on,” she said.
Bart Lewis, a University account
ing clerk and a member of
SEIU/OPEU Local 85, said many of
these labor struggles are a result of
state budget cuts. He said in addi
tion to wages, employees are also
bargaining for adequate health in
surance because OUS is looking to
decrease its coverage.
“Employers are either denying
health coverage or making workers
pay a greater percentage,” he said.
Kathie Best, president of the
SEIU/OPEU Local 503, said wages
are also a serious issue. She said
there are currently OUS employees
who qualify for government assis
tance because they do not make
enough money.
“Unfortunately, there isn’t
enough value placed on people
who are willing to work hard,” she
said. “There’s more and more need
for unions in this country to protect
the rights of workers.”
State Sen. Tony Corcoran, D-Cot
tage Grove, a member of the
SEIU/OPEU Local 503, also attend
ed the rally to show his support
and update the crowd on recent
employee victories.
He said the state Legislature recent
ly signed a health maintenance organ
ization reform bill which will eventu
ally give workers more rights con
cerning their health-care coverage.
“We signed it finally, after eight
years,” he said.
Corcoran said classified employ
ees need support because University
labor issues affect the entire campus.
“If you’re a public employee or
student you need to start paying at
tention,” he said.
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