Attendance at strike vote helps democratic process
By Christine Ehrick
In my years as a teaching assistant at UCLA, I’ve taught
hundreds of students and graded thousands of papers and exams. I’ve
enjoyed my job and worked hard at it – not only because it’s my
responsibility, but also because I care deeply about undergraduate
education.
I’m not alone, of course. There are thousands of other
hard-working and highly dedicated academic student employees here
at UCLA. Together, we do the majority of teaching, research and
grading in the university.
Despite this formidable contribution to the running of UCLA, we
have no effective say in the conditions of our employment and no
guarantee – in the form of a contract – that the administration
will not arbitrarily and unilaterally alter our current employment
conditions for the worse. This is especially worrisome in light of
the ongoing fiscal straits of the University of California and
Murphy Hall’s undemocratic restructuring initiatives.
As John Curry, UCLA’s administrative vice chancellor, wrote,
"Can a university be run more like a business? You bet it can …
(U)niversties can do a significant job of cutting costs through the
same re-engineering of processes and work that have characterized
the best for-profit corporations." A quick glance at recent
newspaper headlines reveal that such "re-engineering of processes
and work" inevitably involve the cutting of bonuses and a general
worsening of employment conditions. Unorganized and unrepresented
employees are most vulnerable.
Such concerns, and an ongoing commitment to public education,
motivated me and thousands of my fellow academic student employees
to come together to form the Student Association of Graduate
Employees – the union for UCLA’s teaching assistants, research
assistants, tutors and readers.
In May 1994, the California Public Employees Relations Board
(PERB) certified that the association represents a clear majority
of academic student employees at UCLA. PERB regional director Anita
Martinez declared that "voluntary recognition (of the graduate
association) may he granted by the employer (UCLA)."
Despite our contributions to the university, we have inadequate
medical coverage, no dental care, no maternity or sick leave and no
independent grievance process to protect us against sexual
harassment, discrimination and other arbitrary and unacceptable
forms of behavior.
Because we do not receive regular cost-of-living increases, real
wages for TAs and RAs declined 15 percent between 1989 and 1994.
This year, real wages (measured against inflation) declined another
1.5 percent for all academic student employees, while wages for
lecturers and faculty kept pace with inflation. Such inadequate
working conditions for academic student employees can only hurt the
learning conditions for UCLA undergraduates.
Last year, the union membership authorized a two-day walkout. It
was the threat of the imminent strike that resulted in Chancellor
Young agreeing to meet with the graduate association for the first
time. One year later, we need to show Chancellor Young and the UC
Regents our continuing resolve to fight for our rights.
On Thursday, Feb. 29 at 6 p.m., the graduate association will
hold a strike authorization vote in Moore Hall 100. We need as many
association members there as possible to ensure a democratic
discussion and a representative vote. Academic student employees
who have not yet joined the union can gain membership at the
door.
I will be there on Thursday night. I want to hear what my fellow
academic student employees have to say about what course of action
we should take. For the sake of quality public education, for the
defense of our own employment conditions and for the sake of basic
democratic principles, I urge all of you to join me.
Ehrick is a graduate student in history.Comments to
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