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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
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Crime Watch.8
Sports.5
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