...UO faculty file cards with majority support for new union
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in students and a decline in resources
for instruction,” she said, noting that
the number of students majoring in her
department has doubled, yet only one
tenure-track position has been added.
“The administration is using non-
tenure track teachers routinely now,”
she said. “ They used to use temps only
to substitute for absences. Some de-
partments have to hire at 0.49 full-time
to keep them under the line for (insur-
ance) benefits.”
Cramer said some classes have got-
ten so large that students are sitting in
the aisles. “They’re mad, and they
should be,” she said. “A world class
university should focus on academics.”
Boscha also is concerned about the
students. “Bigger class sizes are hurt-
ing students,” she said. “Poor faculty
working conditions mean poor learning
conditions.”
Another faculty concern — health
care benefits — echoes workers in
other workplaces.
“We’ve seen a non-transparent ero-
sion of health insurance,” Cramer said.
“We’ve had no voice. We can’t even get
information on what the changes have
been. Our union will be able to demand
information and have a seat at the
table.”
AFT, which already represents
in the sciences were concerned that
unionizing would result in “leveling”
faculty down to a common level of
compensation, without regard to merit.
The AAUP supplied copies of collec-
tive bargaining agreements that demon-
strated that contracts could “set floors
and provide clear procedures,” as
Cramer described. Similar to union-
represented professional athletes, fac-
ulty would remain able to negotiate
(Editor’s Note: Stefan Ostrach, a re-
Volunteers, donations sought for
kids’ fishing derby in Vancouver
University of Oregon faculty members Tina Boscha, Karen McPherson, and
Deborah Olson prepare to deliver union authorization cards signed by more
than 1,000 of their colleagues to the state Employment Relations Board.
Faculty selected affiliation with both the American Federation of Teachers,
AFL-CIO, and the American Association of University Professors. The union
will be formally certified once the ERB confirms that the signed cards
represent a majority of the 1,912 UO faculty.
some 1,300 graduate teaching fellows
at UO, provided considerable staff re-
sources to the organizing effort.
Faculty activists credit the involve-
ment of the AAUP as well.
The AAUP’s participation showed
“we were respectful of professional-
ism,” Pope explained.
A longtime member of the AFT,
Pope said some professors, especially
Salem-area labor council elects new officers
SALEM, OR — Kathy Bonogofski
has been elected president of the Mar-
ion-Polk-Yamhill Counties Central La-
bor Council. She succeeds Joe Munger,
who did not seek re-election to the un-
paid position. The labor council is an
umbrella organization of 22 union lo-
cals representing more than 9,000 union
members.
“We have a strong council, and I look
forward to working with and represent-
ing all aspects of labor in our area,” said
Bonogofski, a chapter president with
Oregon School Employees Association
who works at Willamette Educational
Service District as a registrar for home-
schoolers. Bonogofski previously served
on the labor council as vice president.
Munger, a member of Steelworkers
Local 8378, was elected vice president.
Other new officers elected were
trustees Jackie Pierce and Dave Cleve-
land, both retired members of Service
Employees International Union (SEIU)
Local 503, and Burley Mack of Oregon
AFSCME Council 75. They will join
incumbents Rosalie Pedroza of SEIU
Local 503 and Office and Professional
Employees International Union Local
(OPEIU) 153, Tim Roark of the Amer-
ican Federation of Government Em-
ployees, and Monte Hansen of Steel-
higher compensation.
Formerly bitter rivals, AFT, which is
an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, and AAUP,
an independent union, have been work-
ing jointly for some time. The two have
organized joint bargaining units for fac-
ulty at Rutgers University in New Jer-
sey, the New York State University Sys-
tem, and others.
workers Local 8378.
Richard Swyers, an officer with AF-
SCME Local 2067 at the City of Salem,
was re-elected secretary-treasurer, and
Judy Sugnet, a retired member of SEIU
Local 503 and OPEIU Local 153, was
re-elected recording secretary.
Terms of office are two years.
Munger and Greg Creal of the Inter-
national Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers Local 280 will continue their
labor council appointments on the
board of directors for Job Growers Inc.,
a regional Workforce Investment
Board. Munger also will continue to
serve on the General Board and Com-
mittee on Political Education of the
Oregon AFL-CIO.
VANCOUVER — Union sponsors and volunteers are needed for the 13th
annual Klineline Kids Fishing Derby, Friday and Saturday, April 13-14.
Klineline Pond is located at Salmon Creek Park in Vancouver.
One of the biggest events in Clark County, the derby attracts more than
1,500 children ages five to 14. The Friday fish-in is for special needs kids.
With a $5 entry fee, each child receives a fishing rod, T-shirt, and lunch. The
fish they catch are cleaned and bagged for them to take home. There are also
lots of prizes, including bicycles, tackle boxes with gear, and much more.
The fishing derby received this year’s Spirit of Clark County award pre-
sented by the Clark County board of commissioners.
Approximately 700 volunteers are needed to assemble fishing rods and
reels prior to the fish-in, and to assist kids the day of the event. Members of
several unions have been instrumental in the continuing success of the event,
but more are still needed.
Union local sponsors also are needed.
A contribution of $250 will get your union logo on T-shirts and provide
space to hang your union banner the day of the event.
For participation, sponsorship, or volunteer opportunities, call Roben
White at 360-608-8537.
The fish-in is presented by the Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife and Klineline Kids Fishing.
For more information about the derby, go online to http://www.klineline-
kf.org/.
Gradine Storms, Principal Broker
RE/MAX equity group
Cell/Text 503-495-4932
grady@gradystorms.com
PAGE 4
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
APRIL 6, 2012