SLAC confronted by police at UNH protest

Few Yalies know that the University's next door neighbor, the University of New Haven (UNH), is embroiled in a hostile labor dispute with its dining hall workers. The dispute has, however, caught the attention of Yale's Student Labor Action Coalition (SLAC).

On Sat., Oct. 25, SLAC ventured to the UNH campus to distribute leaflets and to talk to students. SLAC members complain that when UNH subcontracted its dining hall services to the Pennsylvania-based Wood Company last year, workers suffered a 50-60 percent pay cut. Employees lost seniority, now make only $7,000 a year, and receive no benefits, vacation time, or health care.

Upon their arrival at UNH, SLAC members were told by campus police that they would be arrested for trespassing. The group followed orders and returned to Yale. "[To arrest us] would have been legal, but they were singling out union sympathizers for creating a stir," said Ian Blecher, DC '00. "They don't arrest everyone who walks on campus."

SLAC members staged many protests during Yale's labor disputes, and were surprised to find themselves in trouble with police at UNH. "It's an interesting situation compared to the Administration's attitude [at Yale] last year. [Yale] wasn't exactly supportive, but they certainly allowed the students to have freedom of speech. No one was arrested for anything as minor as leafleting," Connor Martin, TC '00, said.

Shortly after the aborted SLAC campaign, Kate Shawnessy, the Local 217 organizer of the project, went to address the workers. The tentative agreement between the union and Wood Company allows union representatives to have contact with workers. Shawnessy, however, complained that "when we tried to exercise our legal rights, we got arrested." She and her fellow union activist, negotiator Dana Schneider, were taken from the dining hall in handcuffs.

UNH officials assert that they are not responsible for the proceedings in union negotiations. A recent UNH press release stated that the Wood Company is responsible for all of the proceedings. For its part, the Wood Company seems hopeful that an agreement can be reached shortly.

"We feel a responsibility to the University and their students to provide the highest quality service at a reasonable cost. Current demands by the union would not allow this to occur," Human Resources Manager Sue Lorenz stated.

Shawnessy is not convinced that the situation is out of UNH's hands. "UNH is responsible," she said. "They hired the subcontractor, and they shouldn't allow the company to walk all over people. They're responsible for creating a moral work environment."

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