Stuart Benkert writes:
"Every one read Fountain Head first."
I say:
I will support anything, just don't make me read Ayn Rand.
Chris Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Dumas <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 13:23:08 -0400
Subject: Re: [UTCSTAFF] Unions
James Ward wrote:
> The question is how to redress the imbalance within UTC to
> make the institution a welcome place to work again. I would suggest
> some combination of the following:
> 3. Invite union organizers to address the faculty and staff
> to see what our organizing options are. We have to do something or
> shortly everything will be business as usual.
Either of the first two might be a possibility, but I strongly discourage 3.
> I would like to look forward to coming to work, trust the
> folks who lead UTC, have happy, prosperous colleagues, and believe
> this place has a bright academic future. Right now I don't.
There are other ways, including but not limited to your 1. and 2., to
try to make this happen. Let's stay away from 3!
Claire McCullough wrote:
> A union, in addition to other negatives (with which I am personally aware, as when I worked for the federal government I was a member of a union associated with the AFL-CIO), has absolutely no power unless it is willing and able to strike.
Exactly. Laborers join unions (that's why they are called labor
unions). Professionals don't join unions. And before anyone says that
doctors join the AMA, lawyers the ABA, etc., those organizations don't
strike. They are professional associations, not unions.
> Would the faculty at UTC, most of whom I believe to be here because of their commitment to students and teaching, be willing to walk out on students who have paid their tuition and fees, and count on us to provide them with the education they have paid for?
Not me.
> Because I never would.
Good for you. I hope most of the other faculty share the same
dedication to our students.
Stuart Benkert wrote:
> AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Couldn't have said it better myself!
> anyone ever taught at a union school. I have twice. Four times if you count the NEA. I even held an office once. Talk about salary controls. Talk about a boondoggle of beauracracy! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
That's the nature of the beast.
> Never again. Every one read Fountain Head first. Medicocrity reigns supreme and the medoicre find power quite often.
>
> AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
>
> Want to get permission to use the outlets in your class room. Schedule a time for an engineer to come plug it in for you because union rules forbid you to do it your self.
>
> AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
That's the typical kind of job protection B.S. that happens with unions.
Yes, people, things can get worse. Look carefully before leaping!
> No matter how bad you think things are, unions often find a way to make them worse.
For real. PLEASE PLEASE everybody think before you jump into forming a
union. Believe it or not, there are a lot worse things than being
underpaid.
I notice the original post had the subject STAFF ONLY. If the staff
want to organize a union that is their business, though I hope they will
not. Staff pay, in particular academic staff pay (thanks for laying it
on the line, Virginia!) is comparatively speaking much worse than
faculty pay. Our (CS) department secretary, Paula Klintworth, has
worked for the University for many years. Our department could not
function without her and as far as I am concerned she is the single most
underpaid person on campus. Half the salary of the Chancellor's new
assistant would be a huge raise for her! I haven't asked, but I hope
even she would not favor a staff union.
As far as faculty are concerned, no matter how bad things are (or are
perceived to be by some people) I vote a resounding NO to a union!
Joe Dumas
Christopher Stuart
UC Foundation Assistant Professor
English Department
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
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