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Workers allege Memorial Union racism
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by Joanna Pliner
Friday, September 22, 2006
Memorial Union employees are alleging years of racism from their manager and are launching a weblog in a new effort to end the bigotry.
The employees are members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees group Local 171 that, according to treasurer and full time Memorial Union kitchen employee Mike Imbrogno, is a labor union representing blue-collar workers at the University of Wisconsin.
Imbrogno said Local 171 has tried to get the UW administration involved in eliminating preferential treatment of Caucasian workers over black workers at Memorial Union to no avail. Now the group is initiating a blog to try to spread the word.
In one instance, Imbrogno says Kitchen Manager Tim Vertein once fired a black worker for drinking a soda the employee had not paid for, while not disciplining a white worker who brought opium to work and then forced it on a female in a "secluded part" of the kitchen, according to a Local 171 release.
"The double standard down here is so ridiculous and so over the top that we need to get the information out because we won't stand for this," Imbrogno said. "And to have folks higher up on the chain ignoring this — it's just bullshit."
However, Mark Kennedy of Wisconsin Union communications said the cases of racism were dealt with four to six years ago, and there are no recent complaints.
"The complaints were found to be groundless," Kennedy said. "I think it's a great place to work."
But Mark Thomas, a steward for Local 171, isn't so confident in the Union's attention to the reported racism. Thomas said he thinks Memorial Union supervisors are "afraid" of the liberal response the campus community may give.
"It's like you'd have to burn a cross on the terrace for them to do anything," Thomas said.
Employees should not have to face inequality and harassment in the workplace, Imbrogno said, adding he thinks Local 171's blog will help their cause.
"It's a step in the right direction to raise awareness and put pressure on the powers that be to make sure they ensure a fair work environment," Imbrogno said.
Check out the weblog at http://memorialunionracism.blogspot.com.
Anonymous (September 22, 2006 @ 9:03am):
That doesn't make any sense. Mr. Mark Thomas states that the Union is afraid of the liberal response so it would take cross burning to do something? Isn't that the opposite? Since Madison is so liberal and progressive, wouldn't that pressure the Union to be more liberal--hence providing equal opportunities and protectings its employees against racism??
I'm not quite sure what Local 171 wants to have happen. People fired??? If the Union guy, Marc, is right about no complaints being filed for 4-6 years....then why would local 171 do this?
Anonymous (September 22, 2006 @ 9:22am):
I am amazed that the Herald has chosen to publish this blog of unfounded accusations and ridiculous hearsay. There are some great blogs on the website www.theearthisflat.com that could be written about as factual too. Maybe they could be the headlines on Monday. In fact, I recommend instituting a policy of only using google for all research on articles published and trusting wikipedia for all statistics.
I might as well be reading the Onion to get my facts.
Anonymous (September 22, 2006 @ 10:58am):
"launching a weblog in a new effort to end the bigotry. "
Wow...then they must be serious! Did they update their facebook profiles too?
Come on! This is a joke. How will a weblog end bigotry? How about filing claims or a class action lawsuit? How about doing something that will actually institute change (I don't even believe their claims because their "strategy" is STUPID.)....
Get real.
Anonymous (September 22, 2006 @ 2:19pm):
Racism is a nonsense word.
Our species is predatory, by nature, which means, if we are a healthy race, we discriminate.
That is why all Jews and nonwhites promote discrimination when it serves their ethnic interests. Whites are considered a beta race, a subjugated race, and face punishment for showing just a hint of racial aggression, ala Trent Lott and John Rocker.
Whites who accept a racially emasculated status are accepted by the system.
Anonymous (September 22, 2006 @ 3:35pm):
All I heard when I read this article was:
Whhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Anonymous (September 22, 2006 @ 8:31pm):
It's ok that Guthier et al are complicit racists because they have an unprofessional website.
Anonymous (September 24, 2006 @ 3:48pm):
Wow most of the above comments are really right on. If this small, unrepresentative, but vocal segment of local 171 really had a substantive claim, they would be taking substantive action.
But really they are just trying to derail the student body-wide effort to renovate Memorial Union and re-build Union South.
After all -- has anyone else noticed that local 171 has conducted three pulicity campaigns in regards to the Memorial Union in the past ~2 years, and all three have been timed within one month of a vote on the student union initiative?
If y'all want to take down the initiative in order to build your own power and punish the union for alleged past actions, at least debate it ON THE FACTS. But clearly you've got nothing to go on. Enjoy the blog.
Anonymous (September 26, 2006 @ 5:03pm):
That information provided by Imbrogno is in fact, using his term, BULLSHIT! The Union has never had any bias or rasiism in it's employment or management policies. It may be some employees have not followed Union policies and have imposed there personal bias in performing their jobs but if it is called to the attention of their employers, it has been dealt with, correted and not condoned or tolerated.
