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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 2004)
An independent newspaper http://www.dailyemerald.com Wednesday, January 28, 2004 Since 1900 University of Oregon Ducks looking up at Cardinal Page 5 Eugene, Oregon Volume 105, Issue 87 Collective com motion Possible unfair labor practices prompted a demonstration infront of Mother Kali’s Books on Tuesday night By Caron Alarab Senior News Reporter bout 30 people demonstrated in front of Mother Kali's Books on Tuesday JL Xiiight to protest recent termination let ters issued to all four of its current employees. The employees, who will all be terminat ed on or by Feb. 13, contend that the firing method could violate certain union rights, including the right to collective bargaining. The employees rallied friends and vol unteers to stomp and shout outside the store for their continued employment and for restored health care benefits dur ing the first part of a Mother Kali's execu tive board meeting. "(Our goal) is to show the board that we have community support," said store Co-Manager Cheryl RiversI lailey, who re ceived her termination letter on Jan. 23. Less than 15 minutes into the meeting, board members adjourned to a different lo cation after reviewing a copy of a claim and a requested injunction filed by the workers. The board members declined to com ment. On Jan. 26, the employees filed an un fair labor practices claim with the National Labor Relations Board in Portland. As an independent federal agency established to enforce the National Labor Relations Act, the NLRB remains neutral in all labor dis putes while ensuring the right to collective bargaining, which Mother Kali's employ ees are fighting to maintain. "Their case has been assigned for investi gation," Portand NLRB Officer-In-Charge Cathleen Calahan said. "But we won't know what happened until we investigate it." Calahan defined collective bargaining as "a union and employer obligation to bargain, in good faith, with respect to terms and conditions of employment." Calahan said she couldn't tell whether the bookstore employees' case involved a lack of collective bargaining and that the inves tigation should take anywhere from 30 to 45 days to complete. In the meantime, the two staff employ ees, Tiffany Haggmark and Madrone De icher, and their co-managers, all of whom are members of IWW Local 660, hope to receive a quick injunction to allow time for collective bargaining. Mother Kal»s Books Tim Bobosky Photographer About 30 people protested in front of Mother Kali's Books after four employees received termination letters. RiversHailey and Sandra Pasman became tem porary co-managers at the store in September after working as staff employees for three years and a year and a half, respectively. Approximately three weeks ago, board members notified the co-man agers of upcoming newspaper ads for a single full time manager. Although she always knew her man agement position would be temporary, RiversHailey said she was shocked to receive the termination letter. "They didn't say it, but I was under the impression we were going to get our staff jobs back," she said. "It was a total surprise for everyone." RiversHailey's letter stated that the board needed "to implement a new management-staff model" in order to keep the store open. At the demonstration, the employees said the store has also recently denied them health care benefits, which they said "adds in sult to injury." At the end of the demonstration, demonstrators with signs — one reading "Union busting is the patriarchy" — held them high while others shout ed "Union bust, lose our trust" at the board mem bers, who walked out the store's back door to avoid the crowd. Contact the business/science/technology reporter at caronalarab@dailyemerald.com. N.H. win secures Sen. Kerry as leader For the past 22 years, the Democratic candidate who won both the New Hampshire and Iowa primaries has received the party’s nomination By Carl P. Leubsdorf The Dallas Morning News (KRT) NASHUA, N.H. — John Kerry cement ed his front-runner status by defeating for mer Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and three other main rivals Tuesday in the New Hampshire primary. The Massachusetts senator, a surprise victor Jan. 19 in the Iowa caucuses, held off a late surge by Dean, who began 2004 as the front-runner in polls and money. The former Vermont governor's strate gists hoped that a relatively close finish would enable him to claim a share of the night's laurels. But Dean may have trouble finding a state where he can win, and aides said he would focus his efforts in the next week on some later primaries as well as the sev en states that vote next Tuesday. Since 1972, every candidate winning both Iowa and New Hampshire has captured his party's nomination. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, hoping to exceed expectations by finish ing third after his surprising second in Iowa, was in a close race with retired Gen. Wesley Clark. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who like Gen. Clark bypassed Iowa to con centrate here, trailed in fifth place; aides denied that he would soon quit the race. Aides to both Clark and Lieberman have said that they hope to do better when Democrats vote next Tuesday in seven Turn to KERRY, page 8 Coordinator provides ASUO with needed stability Danielle Hickey Photo Editor Jennifer Creighton-Neiwert, ASUO accounting coordinator, has been a welcome mainstay with the ASUO since 1997 By Chuck Slothower News Reporter While ASUO presidents, student sen ators and board members come and go, ASUO Accounting Coordinator Jennifer Creighton-Neiwert holds the ASUO to gether, providing a key element of continuity from year to year and helping many students who are new to the ASUO adjust to their positions. Since starting with the ASUO as an in tern in 1997, Creighton-Neiwert, 27, has become the go-to person for students seeking advice on ASUO processes. "She goes out of her way to make sure that everybody in the office does the best job that they can do," Sen. Mena Ravas sipour said. "She helps me be the best senator that I can be." Creighton-Neiwert, who has semi-of ficially taken on the title of ASUO Coordinator, is a familiar face at meet ings of the ASUO Student Senate and Programs Finance Committee, where she occasionally pipes in to shed light on precedent or ASUO rules. "My role in a lot of boards and groups differ(s) every year depending on their needs," Creighton-Neiwert said, adding that while groups such as PFC and the senate are completely student-run, she is happy to give them advice. "It's just to help them make their own answers," she said. Creighton-Neiwert said her role can be demanding. "1 think (students) expert a lot as far as me always having the answer and having it in a very timely manner," she said. "We're fast paced, we're motivated and we're always on the move, and it's not al ways easy to be moving and shaking." Creighton-Neiwert said she believes passionately in the power of involvement. "My philosophy and why I do my job is that anybody can make a difference," Creighton-Neiwert said. To that end, she Turn to ASUO, page 4 WEATHER INSIDE NEXT ISSUE LOW 50 HIGH 50 Campus buzz.3 Classifieds.7 Commentary..2 Crossword.7 Crime Watch.8 Sports.5 Natasha Chilingerian interviews singer Joules Graves
