letter frout the editor Eighty-three years of editorial freedom Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan Krasny, HRP clash on accountability JI 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Mi. 48104 News Phone: 764-0552 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1973 Long autumn for.Woodcock THE -UNITED Auto Workers (UAW) seem to have worked Chrysler into several substantial concessions in the tentative contract agreed to Monday by negotiators. Whether or not the pact will be ratified by the rank and file remains to be seen. A wage increase was, of course, an item involved in the negotiations, and a hike of a little more than five per cent in the first year and three per cent the next -two were agreed upon. However, this year the issue of wages was probably not the most important one. Bargaining over "30-and-out", voluntary overtime and a dental program were considered more important, for successes on these issues could not be easily destroyed by inflation. Perhaps the major breakthrough in the proposed. contract is the so-called "30- and-out" provision which would enable workers to retire without monetary pen- alties after thirty years on the job, no matter what their age. rTHIS PROVISION, which is very popu- lar with the UAW membership, will enable workers to salvage productive years of their lives away from the mono- tonous routine of factory labor. An appareitly strong dental program, for which Chrysler will pay ten cents per hour to pay for employe dental costs, was also agreed to. The UAW rank and file may, find the provisions for health and safety to be somewhat less agreeable, however. Pro- mises of regular checks by both manage- ment and union inspectors of plant con- ditions seem rather vague, lofty as the intent may be. And a promise of a com- pany study in the future of the health as- pects of certain types of work, such as foundry jobs, may also be less than satis- fying to many workers. IT IS THE voluntary overtime issue, though, which may breed the most dissension within the ranks. Although UAW President Leonard Woodcock has praised the voluntary 'overtime section highly, in reality it is the essence of com- promise-a compromise the rank and file may not accept. Basically, the agreement is that no worker may be forced to work more than nine hours a day or six days a week, and may take every third Saturday off. This is a substantial reduction from twelve hour days and seven day weeks, but Chrysler can still force its workers to work more than eight hours a day, five days a week. Workers would seem justified if they feel that the union leadership "sold them down the river" on this issue, especially in the light of the years unions battled for the right to the eight hour day. IF THE WORKERS reject the proposed contract, it means the strike goes on and the negotiators must begin anew to hammer out a Chrysler contract. S.hould workers decide the advantages of the rest of the tentative contract out- weigh the disadvantages of the overtime provision, General Motors and Ford may avoid tradition and not agree to the terms of the Chrysler contract. Overall, it may be a long autumn for Woodcock and the UAW negotiators. By CHRISTOPHER PARKS CITY COUNCILMAN Jerry D e Grieck (HRP-1st Ward) thinks Ann Arbor's appointed officials should have to come before coun- cil and answer questions. The specific official he has in mind is Police Chief Walter Kras- ny, whose public statements of the last week have left many here with the strong impression that a "get tough" policy or marijuana use is being implemented. What De Grieck wants to know from Krasny is what precisely is the departmental policy on the marijuana question. And he wants Krasny to appear in person so that he can be quizzed by council mem- bers in a public forum. The chief thinks otherwise. He has refused to come before council unless ordered to do so by the administration. And at Monday night's city council meeting, the administration made it abundant- ly clear that they have no inten- tion of issuing such an order. THIS CONFLICT provoked a scene at the council m e e t i n g which typlifies the way Republi- cans are running things now. De Grieck gave an impassioned speech castigating Krasny for his arrogance and demanding the op- portunity to question him in an open and public forum. As he spoke, Mayor Jim Stephen- son learned back in his s w i v e 1 chair and gazed distractedly at the ceiling. Across the council table, his GOP cohorts giggled and grin- ned. City Administrator Sy Murray suggested that DeGrieck could see Krasny privately and ask any ques- tion he wished. The councilman de- clined, saying the quizzing should be open and public. DE GRIECK asked if it would be necessary for him to bring a resolution before council demand- ing Krasny's appearance. The Re- publicans answered that it would, knowing well that the vote on such a resolution would likely be De- Grieck and two Democrats "yes," and seven Republicans "no". Face flushed and voice rising, DeGrieck castigated the Repub- lican-controlled council for arro- gance. The GOP members chortled openly. 'Sadly, thoughout the whole scene, the council's two Democrats-Nor- ris -Thomas (D-1st Ward) and Carol Jones (D-2nd Ward) - looked on impassively, offering no support to De Grieck's lonelly cause. So Krasny will not come before the council. HE WON'T come because he doesn't want to, and no one is go- ing to make him. For years, Krasny has been run- ning the Police Department as he sees fit, consulting only his ad- ministrative bosses and ignoring the more difficult road of. explain- ing his policies to the city's elect- ed representatives. The exact meaning of Krasny's recent ominius comments about marijuana smokers remains un- clear. But the signs are not encour- aging. Sources familiar with local law enforcement are openly comment- ing that Krasny is making himself a willing tool of Mayor Stephen- son's drive to crack down on the counter-culture. The conspiratdrial theory gains creedence when Krasny, with the enthusiastic backing of Stephen- son, declines to show up at city hall -to explain himself. OTHER CITY department heads are not allowed the luxury Krasny claims for himself. 4 The city administrator and city attorney have to attend each city council meeting and are available at all times for questioning. The head of the planning depart- ment is frequentlyacalled down for a brisk grilling. But not Walter. bothered. He can't be De Griecks' right. Krasny's at- titude is the height of arrogance. But that's all part of the way the Republicans are' running the city now. THE AFL-CIO's Fred Veigel ap- peared before council during the same meeting wanting to know why Mayor Stephenson has refused to proclaim "Union Label Week". Mayors all across the country have done pit. Even Governor Milliken (a Republican) has done it. But Stephenson won't. He says the is- sue is controversial and acidly comments that the union labelis considered by "many" (himself, perhaps) as a "symbol of coer- cion." No names are available yet, but strongindications are that when the Democrats go about picking city council candidates for the left-leaning First and Second Wards, young women will be at the top of the list. The Dems are very pleased with the victory of Carol Jones in the Second last spring, and feel that running a woman - especially if the Human Rights Party runs a man - will give them an edge. * * * . DEGRIECK and Council Demo- crats want the city police depart- ment to stop harrassing bicyclists. Monday night they raised I o u d complaints about' the newly imple- mented policy of ticketing bikes d Chief Krasny lyocked to parking meters on the sidewalk, saying it is having the effect of actively discouraging bi- cycling inathe city. Mayor Stephenson loftily p r o claimed that as long as he was mayor, all the laws would be en- forced. Disgruntled liberals in .at- tendance were overheard pointing out that a city law, calling for housing code inspection at least every 2 years, has been rendered unenforcable by Stephenson-inspir- ed personnel cuts. Christopher parks is co-editor-in- chief of The Daily. Leaving bad enough alone CORRUPTION AND random annihila- tion are standard procedure in southern Vietnam.' Hunger and mutila- tion are so commonplace as to pass un- noticed. Even the rich must sell jewels, yachts, and second homes to- get food, now that American servicemen are no longer present to support the black mar- ket. News from Cambodia reads like notes of a chess match, or "capture the flag" at camp. "Government" troops have re- taken the university campus at Kompong Cham at a reported cost of 8,000 casual- ties, divided of course into columns la- beled "we" and "they". Highway 4 is "clear," Highways 1 and 5 are "blocked." At present, no one speaks of the real lives that go on, or end: In tranquil Thailand, the U.S. Agency for International Development quietly prepares to take another census. The fact that the Thas inanaged to take their TODAY'S STAFF: News: Bill Heenan, Jack Krost, Judy Rus- kin, Charlie Stein, Ted Stein Editorial Page: Mornie Heyn, Za c h a r y Schiller, Eric Schoch Arts Page: Diane Levick, Jeff Sorensen Photo Technician: Terry McCarthy own censuses for hundreds of years goes unobserved. And only a few will remember that the last U.S.A.I.D. census provided the out- line for "pacification," when . the U.S. military "relocated" dozens of Thai tribes for the building of U. S. air bases. AT THE SAME time, the C.I.A. "re- moved' influential tribal leaders, kindly pointed out by "neutral" anthro- pologists, some from our University. In the AI.D. budget, this was called "popu- lation control for underdeveloped coun- tries." And Laos now has a coalition govern- ment, the third in fifteen years. So the U. S. government leaves Laotian politics much the way it found them. However, the American presence is ap- parent in other places: the Plain of Jars looks like the far side of the moon; Laos joins a growing list of nations with re- fugee populations; and there is famine for the first time in Laotian history. But, for a while, the fighting has stopped. The accord in Laos should be the model for future U. S. foreign policy in Indo- china: Withdraw all troops and military aid, and let the Indochinese determine their own internal politics. Letters to The Daily rebuttal is wounded even more deep this thrust of the right. The To The Daily: sage is only too clear: ther ful will protect their intere. THERE ARE a nuTnber of points the extreme. in Martin Stern's letter with which --Ray Faith, grad one is tempted not only to take is- .Sept 1 sue, but which in fact induce in the writer of this one a profound sense of disgust.rieo The description of the Chilean To The Daily: military take-over as a "revolu- LAST SPRING, somebody tion" broadens the meaning of this me a ride to Pittsburgh. 0 term to such an extreme as to way back we discussed th render it totally vacuous. Or, sibility of establishing a cit again, the comparison of a North telephone service that co American conservative electoral those offering rides with thos victory in Ann Arbor with a bloody desire them. The Union bi fascist overthrow in Latin America board offers a similar servi is obscene to say the least. The the board is in a state of di same kind of vile thread continues most of the time. also, one throughout the letter. come to the Union to see Ofscourse,thiswriterhis at least that may be inconvenient for as biased as the author of the people, especially non-studen letter to which this is a reply. A telephone service is alre Otherwise he might be able to toss existence. You may dial ON the whole thing off as a joke, a to offer or get a ride. Ho case of off-beat negative humor. thetex ting service has som As is, he sees in it not only the iations: neurotic rantings of a moron, but It is not well publicized; It the cumulative effect of genera- by volunteers and its con tions of middle class know-nothing existence is not assured. reaction in our country to a n y hours operated its ngpai cause that raises the social organi o -sonly,anit capacityt zation of humanity to a higher 1ev- dIe a heavy volume of c el than that of a virtual chaos. limited. A real improvement would The middle class sentiment that the city would sponsor and bases its morality on its pros- ize a telephone service that perity is the same as that which erated 24 hours a day wi has brought us Vietnam, the Bay many telephone lines as nee of Pigs, Brazil, the Dominican Re- Still the main obstacle to public, Bolivia, Uruguay, etc., and wide usage-of such a serv now Chile. Is there no end to the psychological. Many peop atrocities against mankind that reluctant to ride with strang will be perpetrated. on the basis the fear of crime. This co of desires of the "majority' of the surmounted in the following people? ner. Let's assume you need Any person who advocates a to Cleveland: democratic system of government 1. You call the ride infor must condemn in his very soul the, number and obtain names total and savage destruction of this ,phone numbers of people g system in our neighbor to the .that direction. south. Anyone who aspires to eco- 2. You find someone to giv nomic and social equality for all a ride. You obtain his or hi ply by e mes- power- ests to !vice gave On the e pos- ty-wide onnects se who bulletin ice but sarray e must it and t some ants. d eady in 1E-1 11 wever, ne lim- is run ntinued corking to han! alts is td be if public- tis op- vith as eded. o the vice is de are ers for auld be g man- a ride mation a n d oing in ve you her full Daily Photo by DAVID MARGOLICK Handicapped students make progress acting on on behalf By MARTIN STERN AS HANDICAPPED persons move towards the attainment of equal rights in our society, o n e point is clear. It is basically the efforts of the handicipped persons themselves which are helping to overcome the b-arriers, both physi- cal and mental, which have kept them repressed for so long. In recent years, organized groups of handicapped persons have been fighting their own battles. No long- er content with accepting charity and no longer content with the soc- ietal notion that they are an in ferior group, many disabled citi- zens are now active in efforts to improve the living conditions and opportunities around them. ITEM: In 1966, an architec- tural barrier building law was passed by the state legislature, re- quiring all new facilities funded by public funds to be easily accessible to the physically handicapped (through ramps, elevators, etc). A companion bill passed in 1970 made the same requirements of new pri- vately funded buildings. B o t h bills were sponsored by state Rep. Robert Mahoney, a Detroit Demo- crat who is legally blind. It has been the policy in the past to isolate the handicapped in in- stitutions where they could easily receive necessary aid. Unfortunate- ly, such isolation often has only served to further depress the mor- ale of the handicipped, thus mak- ing it more difficult for them to cope effectively in society. * ITEM: On February 16, hand- icapped members of the state Re- habilitation Association, along with some members of the National As- sociation of the Physical Handi- capped, met with lawmakers in Lansing to urge the passage of new laws to end job discrimination and to provide for slanted curb con- struction. On April 12, Gov. Milli- ken signed into law a bill requiring tion of the Blind, established in 1940, strives through "means of speeches, pamphlets, radio, and TV appearances . . . to educate the general public to the fact that the blind are normal individuals who can compete on terms of equality with others." This organization is run by persons who are themselv- es blind. S* * Physical disabilities, of course, go beyond mobility problems and blindness caused by illness or birth defects. Also included under t h e broad term "handicapped" a r e those with speech impairment, hearing loss, epilepsy, and heart disease. Each one of these disabil- ities create its own problems. In Ann Arbor, there are two major organizations attempting to alleviate the problems of the handicapped, both on any off cam- pus. THE MAYOR'S Committee on the Problems of the Handicapped is an ad.visory committee which has been active in proposing and ini- tiating projects for handicapped citizens. So far, there have been ten pay phones installed at differ- ent points throughout the c i t y which can be easily used by per- sons in wheelchairs. Teltran is also due to modify five of its buses to each allow for the transport of four wheelchairs. Each bus would operate in a different city zone. The city has likewise played a major role in the renovation of city sidewalks to provide sloped curbs (and some ramps.) The committee is also studying a variety of other plans, such as eas- ily-accessible public housing, re- creational facilities, and so forth, all of which would be aimed at al- lowing handicapped persons to function as normal a life as pos- sile in Ann Arbor. AT THE Universitv. the newly abilities. The guiding principle here was that the handicapped were the best qualified to under- stand their own needs. It was thus in 1971 that several handicapped students formed the Committee to Aid Disabled Stu-' dents as a Student Government group. Among other things, they met with the University Plant Committee to plan new construc- tion for curbs and entrances. The committee also sponsored last year's Sensitivity Day, wherein University trustees, confined them- selves to wheelchairs for a day on campus in ,order to better under- stand the problems of those per- manently confined to a wheelchair. THE FORMATION of the DSSP, however, has been the major ach- ievement of the committee. Award- ed a $70,000 grant from the Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, the DSSP is currently in its organiza- tional stage. A search for a direc- tor is on; the applicant must be 'talented, sharp, and handicapped. A large portion of the staff as well as the Board of Advisors will also be individuals with disabilities. The DSSP has been founded on the principle of recognizing the abilities of the - handicipped and the disabled. In providing service for those in need, Jim Walker, a member of the Board of Advisors, who is legally blind, notes t h a t DSSP "will not be patronizing, and will not be oppressive." The program will not be a re- quired social service, but rather will be available to those who wish, on their own, to benefit from i t s services, which will be supportive in such a way as to allow handi- capped students to have a campus life comparable with that of the non-handicapped. DSSP services will deal with physical, academic and personal areas of campus liv- ing. THE 1976 GOAL of The Presi- dent's Committee on Employment "Letters to The Daily should be mailed to the Editorial Di- rector or delivered to Mary Rafferty in the Student Pub- lications business office in the Michigan Daily building. Letters should be typed, double-spaced and normally should not exceed 250 words. The Editorial Direc- tors reserve the right to edit Al letters submitted. name, address and some forfm of I.D. (driving license or student I.D.). You then communicate this information to a friend or relative. You also give him or her similar information to do the same. You and your ride could t h e n check identification again when you .meet. Hopefully this will stir up some discussion that might lead to the eventual establishment of such a city-wide telephone service. -Mohammed Saleh Sept. 17 '' . , w s :NOW WMA"T f5 BEST FL kVE ovwm'. Z HAVE MORE FACM~. : WAT i.,. "Ir ( 11 t I