Dr. Mains raises an interesting issue. It should be pointed out, however, that it was the UCHC administration that insisted that department heads here at the UCHC be excluded from the voting class! Indeed, given the similarity of the duties assigned to dept. heads here and at Storrs, dept. heads should be included and have the right to vote-- especially given the "one university" rhetoric. The only way Dr. Mains could be "swept into" a union would be if the vote goes in favor of unionization and a successful appeal is subsequently made to include dept. heads (as they should be). Any disenfranchisement has been brought to you by HR and the administration.
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The level of misinformation being perpetuated by the pro-union organizers on this message board and elsewhere is tragic. No one here is deciding anything unilaterally, including who is or isn't "in". The Labor Board decides and any anti-union advoctes are being told they cannot comment. so when Marth threw Dick and others under a bus, you cant blame the administration. As a scientist tech in a lab (stuck in UHP) i can tell you that you are about to become pawns of the LaborBoard. if you don't like the conditions of the vote, which ignore how we work and the fact that many of you don't even work in farmingto), the lack of open debate and discussion, then just wait. The labor Board will be the primary voice for you through Marth or Mornignstar. They have no idea and really don't care how a doctor's or scientist's career works. they only want to enhance the labor lobby. Don't fall into the same trap the rest of us are stuck in.
ReplyDeleteThe assertion that the administration wants chairs at UCHC out of the union vote is ridiculous. It's Ed Marth that wants them out. He knows that most chairs at UCHC are anti-union. So, of course administration would want them to vote (to increase proportion of votes against). However, neither Ed nor the administration makes this decision. The Labor Board does. So, either Ed agreed to this, or (if there was a dispute), the Labor Board decided. Anonymous is correct. It isn't Ed or any of us who will decide our futures. It is the Labor Board.
ReplyDeleteI'm tired of standing on the sidelines, because I'm considered part of management. I'm not allowed to talk to anyone openly about my opinon. The folks in Hartford shut us all down as soon as the union lobbyist ran whining to Chris Donovan. Now, the only voices you are allowed to hear are those of pro-union advocates.
AAUP will say it's all about academic freedom, but believe me it's not. They don't want those of us who are anti-union to share our reasons. As soon as the administration started to come forth with information that might be construed as an anti-union perspective, we were told to stop or the politicians in Hartford would withdraw support for the Health Center.
I can't believe that people want Ed Marth bargaining for their work conditions and salaries. Wouldn't you rather walk into your chair's or dean's office yourself and discuss what you need to be effective? If you think that you deserve more salary or research seed money, wouldn't you rather take that up and make the arguments for yourself with your chair or dean?
The union can not guarantee salary. It cannot guarantee job security. It cannot guarantee voice in any decisions. It cannot guarantee the future of any of us.
What can it do? The union can guarantee that you can no longer negotiate your own work terms and future. The National Academies Fellow will be treated and rewarded the same as the faculty who produces no research, is a terrible teacher, and unproductive clinician. This is because the union does not set terms for individuals it sets them for the average -- the mediocre.