The Michigan Daily - Friday, August 1, 1986- Page 3
Progress made in U' labor negotiations
By PHILIP LEVY temporaty contract since their two-
Negotiators for the University and year pact expired on June 30. The
its employees made significant 2,100 workers are members of the
progress this week towards reaching local American Federation of State,
a new contract, according to Univer- County, and Municipal Employees
sity Personnel Director James Thiry. (AFSCME) union.
Workers, primarily in the Univer- THIRY refused to comment on the
sity's food services, housing, groun- issues being discussed, saying only
dskeeping, and maintenance depar- that he is "always optimistic" about
tments, have been working under a averting a strike. Thiry said the
IMAGES
University is, waiting for union demanded that workers pay health in- IF A strike were called, Eighmey
leaders to agree on a time for the nex- surance for their families. Newman said, most workers would be back on
t negotiating session. has called this a potential "walk-out the job within days. He recalled the
Union leaders were unavailabe for issue." union's last strike, when the picketers
comment. ALTHOUGH the union seemed to be ended up "looking like fools out
Union President Dwight Newman nearing a strike last week, one member there," while the majority of the
had previously described health in- said yesterday he has heard nothing membership returned to work. Eigh-
surance payments for union workers' about a walk-out. Dave Eighmey, a mey said the union ended up accep-
dependents as the main issue under maintenance worker in the Michigan ting the University's offer.
discussion. The University has Union, said pamphlets are normally
distributed when a strike is imminen- He described the AFSCME local as
t to inform members. "weak", and said the workers had
Eighmey said, "I think they're been at the University too long, and
crazy to pull (a strike) now," citing worked with University management
the difficulties AFSCME workers in too much to be cohesive.
Detroit faced when teamsters failed
to continue support for their strike. Eighmey speculated that these
Similarly, University AFSCME weaknesses have made union leaders
workers are unsure if they'll be reluctant to call a strike.
backed by University trade union Other issues in the labor talks in-
workers, such as electricians. lude University demands to replace
If the union struck, though, Eigh- seasonal breaks, such as Christman,
mey said he would not cross the picket with University-determined vacation
line. He predicted that other workers time; to make employees responsible
would not be supportive. "They won't for buying and maintaining their
all walk out. They never have before. uniforms; and to hire non-union work-
It would be a first," Eighmey said. ers for the summer.
Rape crisis center
gets budget increase
By MELISSA BIRKS center since one job was cut, Steiner
The University's executive officers said. That way, there will be at least
have approved a $52,46 budget in- one paid staff member from Coun-
crease for the Sexual Assault Preven- seling Services on call each night.
tion and Awareness Center, bringing "I DON'T think that the ten percent
its funding package to $127,466. (in funds cut from Steiner's request)
, .Julie Steiner, the center's director, damages our ability to provide ser-
was granted an initial budget of vice," Steiner said. She said she had
$75,000 when the facility opened last been opposed to reducing her original
February. The increase in funds will budget, and added that she wouldn't
Daily Photo b CHRIS TWIGG bring a 24-hour hotline, and full and have cut any more than $5,000.
part time counselors to work directly "I'm real excited. I think the
with rape victims, executive officers really understood
"I HAVE faith in the person on this was a necessity," Steiner said.
U t board, and (the center is) a fine con- Ironically, the center came into
nve ty shuts down in August cept in place," said Henry Johnson, existence because some students and
vice president for student services, staff members felt the University was
whose office oversees the center. "I ineffective compared to other colleges
think (the center) wiJl'espond to some that created rape crisis centers.
favorable extent in helping solve the A METROPOLITAN Detroit
By EUGENE PAK Although many administrators and Pellerito called August "the lull problem (of rape on campus)."Magazine artiAle iTan 1915,
Tired of hearing about tuition in- their staff members would not say before the storm...and come Septem- Hre zddede oeverthat the Vie article oh January 1985,
creases, classified research reports, where they plan to vacation, Pellerito ber 2, everything breaks loose." University will monitor the center's si at hns s qut
the code, or freshman housing guessed that "they're either sunning But perhaps the most accurate in- udge to nsremthe money sedtef s osaying that the University keeps quiet
problems?Tske heart. The University in Traverse City or painting their por- dication of the August slowdown is not fectively. The funds will come from image. His remarks caused abeut 50
slows down in August, as many top ches." the lack of activity in the Fleming the University's genral fund, students to stage s sit-in at his office.
administrators take some much But not everyone goes on vacation. Adminstration Building, but the extra Like most proposals that are ap- Johnson then signed a list of student
needed vacation time. "They (administrators) have to have space in its parking structure proved by the executive officers Jdmns hn igre amps fet
"August is a quiet month," said some time off during the year to get , demands to improve campus safety,
Peter Pellerito, assistant to the vice away, for their own mental health, "THERE ARE actually parking Steiner 's budget request had to be emphasizing a rape crisis center.
president for community relations, said Doris Goodwin, the senior spots in the parking structure across reduced before it was approved. That April, the protestors wrote a
"Most classes are finishing and there executive secretary for Vice from the Fleming Building," said Steiner refined what she termed a proposal for the center, stating that
is no regents meeting in the month of President Henry Johnson. "But the Pellerito, "which is sort of unusual." "bare bones proposal and in the end, the University was "in the minority of
August...so therefore the President is University doesn't stop." If the administration takes off cut out about $5000 from her original urban colleges and universities of
on vacation and several vice- "Everyone goes away, and because the regents do not meet, then request. comparable size that do not have
presidents take significant amounts of whoever's here has a lot of work dum- what do the regents do in August? STEINER said she eliminated a either (1) on-campus crisis counseling
timeoff."ped in their lap," said Pat Dusham, a Regent Deane Baker (R-Ann Ar- paid student advisor position, and and/or resource centers, or (2) an
staff member in Vice President for bor), said he does not take a summer made it a work study job. established mainstreamed system for
Academic Affairs James Duder- vacation because the summer months But almost the entire $5,000 cut was utilization of community service
ACCORDING TO Susan Lipschutz, stadt's office. are an important time for his building made possible by increasing the in- agencies to meet the assessed need."
assistant to University President business. He called Ann Arbor "an volvement of Counseling Services, In her budget reports to University
Harold Shapiro, the president will "be absolutely delightful place to be in the Steiner said. For instance, Counseling administrators, Steiner referred to
in and out of the office" in August. MANY high-ranking administrators summer." Services workers are already trained the protestors' demands.
"August is as good a time as any to could not be reached because they "There's not much going on in to answer crisis calls they receive on Other proposed improvements of
take some time off," said Lipschutz, were taking some time off. Pellerito August (in the University)", said a 76-GUIDE hotline, which serves the campus safety include expanding the
who agreed that the absence of a said he recently made eight to nine Baker, "there are fewer students, and same function as the phone system Nite Owl bus service and installing
Board of Regents meeting makes phone calls to the heads of academic fewer faculty. I guess only building Steiner proposed. emergency phones. Now Steiner said,
August a popular vacation month for units but "was only able to reach two contractors and Daily reporters are A team of counselors will also be "We're doing more than what other
administrators. or three of them." staying around." . *,on call to "pick up extra slack" for the universities are doihg"