Wednesday, December 2, 1998
Graduate students protest as strike starts
SAGE: Campus adjusts as teaching assistants picket, rally for
bargaining rights
By Timothy Kudo
Daily Bruin Contributor
Striking teaching assistants (TAs), readers and tutors held a
rally and began picketing on the outskirts of campus Tuesday.
Academic student employees on eight UC campuses went on strike,
seeking collective bargaining rights.
The strike has resulted in numerous cancelled discussions, the
possible alterations of final exams and possibly the delay of
grades.
Over 30 members of the Student Association of Graduate Employees
(SAGE) picketed in Westwood, walking continuously across the
intersection of Westwood and Le Conte and chanting. When it began
to rain, many picketers left – but others, using their picket signs
and even trash bags as protection, continued to march.
"We are going to win … because we have the will of the
majority of the teaching assistants on all eight university
campuses," said Dan Rounds, a TA for Political Science 50 and one
of the picketers.
Protesters held a rally near the Medical Center’s visiting
facility at noon – it was attended by more than 100 people.
Speakers included York Chang, external vice president of the
Graduate Students Association, and Liz Geyer, external vice
president of the Undergraduate Students Association Council
(USAC).
The rally also included representatives from other UC campuses,
who updated the protesters on the status of strikes at other
campuses, which they said were all going according to plan.
Though SAGE organizers believe the strike is a necessary step
toward their goal of being recognized for collective bargaining,
many picketers said they wished that the situation hadn’t come to
this.
"I’d much rather be going to work than going on strike," said
Marian Katz, one of the strikers. "It’s more valuable; it’s more
practical."
Many union TAs went on strike two years ago, with the same
goals. That strike ended after a week. This year, however, SAGE
members are eligible for strike pay from United Auto Workers (UAW),
meaning that the strike could last longer.
The student employee unions have modeled this strike after
"service-sector strikes," by encouraging undergraduates to continue
to go to class and to pressure the administration into settling
with the unions.
"It’s modeled on what public school teachers and nurses do,"
said Connie Razza, an organizer for SAGE.
Administrators said they are committed to continuing education
without disruption.
"Every attempt will be made to preserve the instructional goals
and to not have this impact on undergraduate students," said Jim
Turner, assistant vice chancellor of the graduate division.
Though the unions received the support of USAC in a formal vote,
not all undergraduates are supportive.
"I support the TAs and their right to have a union, but I don’t
support the strike," said Noah Bookman, a second-year American
literature and culture student.
Some undergraduates don’t feel that the affect on their studies
is justified by the strike.
"I think it sucks if it’s going to affect the way that students
are graded," said Philip Pahlke, a first-year chemical engineering
student.
But union representatives said the administration is to be
blamed for bringing the strike on undergraduates.
"The university is the one that is responsible for any negative
effects on undergraduates this quarter," Rounds said.
UC president Richard Atkinson has the authority to recognize the
union at any time, but he has refused to do so, because he asserts
that TAs are apprentices, not employees.
In a letter sent last week to members of the UC community,
Atkinson stated that "Teaching Assistants are principally students
rather than employees, and thus are not eligible for collective
bargaining."
But many TAs claim that administrators do not really understand
what being a TA is like.
"’TA-ing’ is a job … a large part of being a TA is doing a lot
of the drudgery – you’re doing gritty stuff," Katz said.
University officials have also argued that the TAs are treated
well and have not really stated what they want.
"There are no significant issues that have been brought forth in
terms of specific grievances … that collective bargaining
addresses," Turner said.
SAGE is currently only seeking to be recognized and has no set
agenda, according to Razza. Organizers have stated that if they
receive bargaining rights, they are going to poll union members in
order to find out what changes will be sought.
"Our membership will decide what goes into a contract," Rounds
said. "That will be a democratic decision made by the rank and
file."
Union members said the strike will last through the rest of fall
quarter, disrupting finals and grades, unless they are recognized
by the university. They also said they will return to work
immediately if they are recognized.MICHAEL ROSS WACHT/Daily Bruin
Senior Staff
A handful of UCLA graduate student employees picketed in the
rain outside the entrance to campus on Westwood Blvd. and Le Conte
Ave. on the first day of the SAGE/UAW strike.
DERRICK KUDO/Daily Bruin Senior Staff
A striker braves the continuous rain outside on Tuesday
afternoon to rally in support for the SAGE walkout, which is
sponsored by the United Auto Workers union.
Graduate student employees are on strike, trying to gain
collective bargaining rights.
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