NATION/WORLD More students to receive federal AP PHOTO Human Rights Mexican Zapotec Indians fro the Loxicha region in Oaxaca protest outside of the interior Ministry in Mexico City yesterday, against detentions of about 150 fellow villagers accused of being rebels. Activites at Rutgers University may halt if two major university unions strike f By Marques Harper Daily Targum BRUNSWICK, N.J. - Imagine waking up one morning to find the din- ing halls and post offices shut down indefinitely. Picture your classrooms empty as you are given the duties of cleaning your residence hall bathroom. You're not in the "Twilight Zone, but N the latest victim of strained relations 'between the faculty and staff unions and the administration, which have been brewing since the days of univer- sity President Edward Bloustein in late '80s. This strike scenario - an idea milling around campus since the start of the semester - is not a passing fad sweeping through the university's streets, but a definite reality, union members said. "It's not impossible that it might hap- pen. I don't think that's an issue with (the administration);' Mattie Gillus, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees of Local 888, said. "We're really trying to work some- thing out. We're going to have to do something. It'll be our last resource," Gillus said. Local 888 represents blue- collar employees at the university, while Local 1671 is the organization of cleri- cal, secretarial and technical workers. The faculty and staff have been working without a contract since June 30, 1995. It's been nearly a decade since the university's first union strike, and now union members said they are hoping that they won't have to resort to picket- ing again to settle contract disputes with university during the last strike. the administration. If job action happened, During 1987's nine-day strike, stu- Hartley, president of Local 176 dents were served bagels and donuts for the postal offices throughout 1 breakfast and soup and sandwiches for versity would be closed until th( lunch and dinner under dining manage- ended. ment. But Richard Norman, vice p Gillus said during the 1987 strike she for administration, said a strik called local food suppliers who deliv- be illegal for professors and fac ered food to the university's dining halls "The university as part of its to ask their unions not to cross the pick- planning process has anticipa Arlene 61, said the uni- te strike resident e would ulty. normal ted any ng ajob et lines. This left dining service managers to pick up food deliveries outside of university lines, she said. "(Members of the administra- tion) can proba- bly cook an omelet, but I don't think they can clean a toilet. numbers of situations," includin "I hope and pray that (President Francis) Lawrence sees the light5" -Arlene Hartley President of Local 1761 action, said Norman who was not an employee of the university when job action was taken in the '80s. N o r m a n would not reveal details about the uni- versity's plans, but said the university is themselves for. The administration and AFSCME had their last mediation session on Sept. 20 and talks have since moved into the fact-finding stage, officials said. Christine Mowry, assistant vice pres- ident and director of employee rela- tions, said the administration has received a list of possible fact finders and has been working in order to get contract talks with the unions moving again. A fact-finder will be appointed and a meeting will be set for sometime in the future depending on the availability of the fact-finder, Mowry said. Fact-finding between the administra- tion and the unions could go on for months, Hartley said. In the January 1987 strike - the first of its kind in university history - lasted nine days involving both Locals 888 and 1761. However, the Rutgers chapter of the American Association of university Professors honored their picket line, but continued to hold classes on campus. "If everyone participated, it would tie up the university completely," Gillus said. "I don't see why (the administration) want us to do this." Hartley agreed, saying that the uni- versity would be limping if a strike plans carried through. "I feel terrible. Nobody wants to strike," Hartley said. "I hope and pray that (President Francis) Lawrence sees the light." - Distributed by University Wire. If the students participated, who would they serve?" Gillus said. "I real- ly don't want to do this." Charles Sams, director of dining ser- vices, and Michael Imperiale, director of university housing, could not be reached yesterday for comment. But during a one-day job action by the unions in March 1990, officials for dining services geared for a longer strike situation by replacing popular dishes on the menu and substituting Styrofoam in place of real dishes. Housing administrators had to pick up trash and garbage throughout the prepared for any job action. Much like in 1987, students and fac- ulty opinion has varied, and some pro- fessors in the faculty union said they will not be involved in any job action. However, the three unions have ral- lied some support of faculty and stu- dents over the past year as talks of a pending strike have faded in recent weeks. Now with the 10th anniversary of the unions'job action in the horizon, Gillus said striking would be a last-ditch effort - but one the unions are prepping MEN'S BASKETBALL tryouts- Tues. 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