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Show Organization hopesfc unite campus workers Often in a student's rush from class to class, his mind r-eared r-eared to philosophy or chemistry, his stomach to don-coffee don-coffee He may not recognize the people who have prepf, registration packet or notice the women who work log"P see that breakfast is served on time. The American Federc-State Federc-State County and Municipal Employes (AFSCME) Local seen 'these workers because they are these workers and'", nize the many problems faced day to day on the job Harry Baker, University groundsman and President of L-In L-In June of 1971 organizing efforts began with small: t;m and discussions. In addition to these first inform. ings, ten campus workers talked with miners in Price d. strike last year and "expressed their solidarity" with oS: local machinists union by manning picket lines. In June of 1972, after a year of organizing other worh meeting with several representatives of different unions : 25 workers obtained a charter from AFSCME and becorr; 585. According to Mr. Baker the majority of fights invol, -union have centered around safety and pay increases such fight the union supported a campus worker who k in the University Paint Shop for seven years but had not :;: a pay raise in the last two years. A "Happy New Physio: party was announced and approximately 400 people Ire-agement Ire-agement and labor attended including members of o:: Several of them set up a table displaying a petition the. for a 22 raise for the University painter. The petition-close petition-close to 100 signatures. After a number of actions, spie: a one month period, the worker received a 10 pay in: which a recent 4t hike has been added. In another incident, this time in the University Paint?: men were injured by a falling glass pane weighing over" The union claimed adequate safety precautions were r: The local also accused the management of not repairir; scaffolding. Presently the management is in the process: taining new scaffolding and also making other safety The local, according to Mr. Baker, was also instrument! tiring" an often overloaded mail truck with bad shoe; faulty gearshift from service. Besides local job grievance: 585 also supports the United Farmworkers boycott o: lettuce (except those brands bearing the Black Eagle ey When questioned on the reasons for organizing,!1 stated some of the goals that the union hoped to pursue these were collective bargaining rights for public emp: eluding representation for personal grievances. He place: emphasis on the treatment of women workers at the U' "Women in food, cleaning and laundry departments!)1 versify are not being put on salary, except for supers;: sonnel, thereby being denied adequate salary increase; ance, paid vacations and sick leave. Secretarial on workers also face similar problems: poor lighting in so-low so-low pay, and general lack of advancement possib women." These problems, in addition to job "speed-up hazards, cut-backs and layoffs, according to Mr. Baker,' need for "a strong, hard-fighting campus workers unt tant now more than over." , Recently the union has secured both a full-time and-representative and-representative and organizer. As evidenced by the if union personnel, the organization seems deter'ne,,' ahead in an attempt to organize large sectors of bo white collar campus workers. As one member ot Loco-it: Loco-it: "The only way we can make any changes at this to organize and be able to fight for them. |