Ninety- nine years of editorial freedom
Vol. XCIX, NO. 7-S Ann Arbor, Michigan Friday, July 7,1989 T=1Dily
Local groups
react to Webster
BY ANN MAURER Law School professor, was not sur-
Amidst a storm of controversy, prised by the decision, but she was
the Supreme Court upheld a surprised by some of the opinions
Missouri statute in Webster v. voiced. "Some of the opinions sug-
Reproductive Health Services on gest they don't feel much fidelity to
Monday. The decision, which chal- Roe v. Wade." Whitman was de-
lenged the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, pressed by the complete lack of dis-
brought about much discussion, but cussion of women's rights in gen-
little celebration. eral, not just about the right to have
The Webster decision affirmed a an abortion.
Missouri law which barred the use of The ruling's new restrictions
public facilities for abortions and re- have caused much discussion and
stricted public employees from per- have generated conflicting opinions
forming them. among pro-choice and anti-abortion
The Court also directly chal- groups about the long-term effects
lenged Roe by suggesting in its ma- of the decision.
jority opinion that its trimester Camille Colatosti, a University
SUZI SILBAR/Daily framework should be abandoned. graduate student and member of the
PRIDE States have been sanctioned by Committee to Defend Abortion
the Court to implement restrictions Rights, found the decision outra-
Community members and students march from the Law Quad to the Federal Building to celebrate on abortion which they have been geous. "The Supreme Court is try-
Lesbian and Gay Pride month. Activities and workshops were held by local groups throughout the trying to impose for the last 16 ing to take away women's fundamen-
month to educate and promote lesbian and gay rights and awareness. years. tal right to privacy"
Christine Whitman, a University See Webster, Page 2
AFSCME bargaining chair fights suspension
BY SAM GREEN
0 The bargaining chair for the
University's 2,500 member service
and maintenance worker's union is
calling her recent four-year
suspension a "political purge," and
will appeal the ruling.
Judy Levy, chief negotiator for
local 1583 of the American
Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees was suspended
Wrom her position earlier this month
on charges of violating the union
constitution after she refused an order
to return a membership address and
seniority list to the union office.
The state union officials who
handed down the suspension said that
"AFSCME will not condone the
blatant violation of the
constitution."
Levy admits that she refused the
*rder, but claims that she is entitled
to a copy of the list under provisions
of the union constitution and the
Freedom of Information Act.
Levy charges that state union
president Jim Glass and Local 1583
President Leroy Carter want to
"preserve their fat salaries and cozy
relationships with management by
purging union officers who fight for
he rights and interests of the
nembership."
Both Glass and Carter refused to make union leaders more accountable
comment on the suspension, calling and force them to demand more from
it an internal matter. the University.
Local union officials demanded But a member of the Local 1583
the list back said Levy, after she Executive committee, who wished to
phoned several union members at remain anonymous, said that he
home and asked them to vote against thought Levy was "working against
a tentative contract agreement that the union itself," because "it was
was endorsed by the union almost as if she were above
bargaining team. compromise."
But a member of the local "The union must be a united
executive board said that Levy's front," he said.
phone calls had nothing to do with But Levy said that the unity of
the charges. officials at local 1583 "is on the
Levy says that her tough basis of promoting themselves. It's
bargaining stance with the not on the basis of the
University and her efforts to membership." She added that she
democratize the union threaten union "would not unite in building Leroy
leaders who fear losing control of the Carter's bank account."
membership. She pointed to het Levy said that union officials
efforts to open up contract should earn the same amount of
negotiations to the membership as money as the average worker. Leroy
part of her fight to give power to Carter, she points out, makes
union members. $26,000 per year and state union
"She's the only person that head Jim Glass makes $89,000 per
would really tell us what was going year while the average AFSCME
on," said a hospital employee and employee makes only $17,000 per
ten-year union member. year.
Under current union policy, the Under the suspension Levy can
AFSCME bargaining team cannot return to her job as a food service
inform members of contract worker.
negotiations until a tentative A national AFSCME judicial
agreement has been reached. Levy panel will hear the appeal before
-^"r th ^' ^-^- -^~^nt ^ti^-e a'^tt" -'tPM '"-
AMIT BHAN/Daily
Supporters of Judy Levy, former AFSCME bargaining chair, protest