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"