Despite Yale's roller-coaster history of contracts, negotiations, and strikes, Peter Vallone, associate vice-president for the administration, enjoys his job. "Yale is a wonderful place to work. I've enjoyed eleven years immensely here and hopefully look forward to 11 more."
Vallone grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1966. He enlisted in the Peace Corps and worked in India for two years. Upon his return, he worked for nine years in the personnel department of the state of Wisconsin whe
re he developed an interest in labor relations. Vallone then spent nine years as director of personnel for Illinois before coming to Yale.
Yale was just recovering from the strike of 1984 when it offered Vallone his current position of Associate Vice-President for the Administration. Vallone felt that he needed to move beyond state relations, and Yale's labor history interested him. His position was created so that Yale could get higher "expertise" in the area of labor relations.
Vallone's responsibilities to the University run the gamut from labor relations and dining halls to campus mail. He also handles issues such as parking, graduate school housing, and Yale's travel program. With the help of Vallone, Yale was able to for mulate contracts for 1988-89, although in the end, these contracts were not accepted.
Vallone said that he feels the current strike "is very unfortunate. It's frustrating that I had to experience my first strike here," he said. He also commented that the unions put too many issues out on the table and do not seem to acknowledge that th e University also has problems that it is trying to solve. According to Vallone, the unions have presented over 100 demands to the University. "We want to bargain and we want to resolve the issues," he said.
Vallone said that so far, the Administration has dealt effectively with the strike and that "the job action hasn't detrimentally affected the University."
When he is not occupied with labor issues, Vallone enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and two step-daughters. His daughter is a junior at New York University, one step-daughter is a junior at Tulane, and the other is a high school sophomore at Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden. When Vallone and his family have rare moments of free time, they like to spend afternoons sailing.
Copyright 1996, The Yale Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
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