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Student Council has been all about change lately. They want to be better, faster and stronger — all before midnight, hopefully.
But Student Labor Action Coalition has a specific change in mind as well. And tonight, the two will probably butt heads.
A change in University of Wisconsin campus worker policy would only let union workers off for their union events, which happen only a few times a year. Previously, they were allowed the time off, plus a 10-hour span for rest before the event.
Naturally, SLAC got all huffy about this. SLAC member and Associated Students of Madison Academic Affairs Chair Jonah Zinn wrote up a resolution to go before ASM Student Council urging Chancellor Biddy Martin to reverse this change.
We’ll admit, the change doesn’t sound at all necessary. Given the length of union meetings and the heavy agenda they usually have to go through, getting everybody in the same room is a task in itself. Not giving second- and third-shift workers the night off beforehand doesn’t exactly help their cause. Nor can we assume any meaningful uptick in productivity or efficiency by this move.
Bringing this to ASM isn’t a bad move, but under the circumstances it’s not the best use of the council’s time, either. Mr. Zinn’s beef is the sort of stuff that Student Council would argue about for three hours and then table until a future meeting. It involves issues of UW responsibilities, workers’ rights and ASM’s jurisdiction. All for an action that would have little tangible effect and should take five minutes to decide.
And with the resolution Mr. Zinn has written up, they’ll take 30 minutes debating the language alone. Instead of a simple resolution saying this would hurt workers, Mr. Zinn’s language makes it seem like Ms. Martin’s move is also racist and classist as well. That debate is irrelevant — just discuss the policy change.
Student Council is finally realizing the lack of activity regarding the student body at large is making them a rather uninteresting and substantially useless body. Meetings run too long because of debates over procedure, language and bylaws, while substantive issues are left hanging in the ether. ASM has a funding system for student organizations that is getting attacked by disgruntled student orgs. It has a restructuring of the graduate school that it has yet to tackle. The Diversity Committee hasn’t had a plan of action in months, and Academic Affairs may as well be known as “Textbooks Committee.” These are substantial issues more worthy of ASM’s attention.
If ASM can find a way to discuss this labor issue outside of normal Student Council meetings and come to a consensus in a timely manner, then feel free to tell Ms. Martin that this seems unnecessary.
Just don’t keep us waiting for the “new” Student Council.
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The resolution you describe seems straightforward to me— it would put the ASM on record as opposing a violation of workers’ rights on campus. If takes three hours to debate, it’s not the fault of the resolution’s sponsor but of those who wish to obstruct its passage. It’s not just that the chancellor’s change in policy is not “necessary,” it’s a unilateral and arbitrary change in the terms and conditions of these workers’ employment (terms and conditions protected by their collective bargaining agreement) and makes it difficult for many of them to participate in their union’s affairs. As such, it’s an encroachment on the workers’ freedom of association and an abridgment of rights they have enjoyed for years.
The chancellor’s action deserves condemnation by the ASM and by your editorial board. These university employees are the ones who do the hard work day in and day out taking care of the campus, including cleaning up after the students and professors. So instead of the snark, why not stand up for the workers and their union and commend the resolution coming before the ASM? Take a stand for something that matters.
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“Got all huffy”? Way to be condescending, Badger Herald.
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This isn’t a student issue, and as such, should not be taken up by the Student Council. It is pointless, feel-good legislation.
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fuck you
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How intelligent.
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I thought that personal attacks were not allowed on this forum. What happened?
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who cares? i want my clothes as cheap as possible, i don’t care that some peasant in honduras didn’t get paid a severance fee. dude makes clothes for a living in the jungle, why do we care? let’s worry about our own poor first
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WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, YOU RACIST PIG
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WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, YOU RACIST PIG
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@11:50AM - Ahh, but it will quickly become one the second these blue collar workers go on strike, and your classrooms remain dirty and your food unprepared, won’t it? Students should take the treatment of workers on their campus very seriously. It is these workers that ensure the institutions necessary for their education run smoothly.
@1:22 - First of all, we should probably worry about your reading skills and comprehension abilities (writing, too, while we’re at it). This editorial was written in regards to changes made to workers on the UW-Madison campus. I’ll reiterate: Our working class, working poor individuals that clean your classrooms and prepare your food for a living.
@BH Editorial Board: The statement that racial and class issues are irrelevant in this debate is misinformed. A quick analysis of the situation would find that the workers employed during these second and third shift positions are predominantly working class and working poor people of color. Unsurprisingly, these individuals are historically disproportionately targeted in such decisions. Institutionalized racism and classism are prevalent in American society, though not always visible as forms of oppression. The UW has a responsibility as an institution not to continue such practices.
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Just so people are aware. The Chancellor did not have any role in the decision as was made. This is clearly an attempt by a local union and radical organization on campus to add another chip since their contract negotiations are up this year.