Yale students aggravated, activated by SNET strike

With angry union members continuing to picket, the Southern New England Telephone (SNET) strike continues with no end in sight. For many off-campus Yalies with nowhere to turn for phone service, the stoppage is taking its toll.

PATRICK MCGARVEY/YH SNET strikers picket company headquarters on Thurs., Sept. 10.

"In a city like New Haven, I don't believe it's safe for me to be living alone and not have a telephone," off-campus resident Elizabeth Carter, DC '99, said. "If [the strike] does not get resolved soon, I am thinking of petitioning my dean to let me move back on campus, or anywhere where I might be able to have access to a telephone."

Until Wed., Sept. 9, Yalies on the Flex Dollars dining plan faced an added inconvenience: the phone lines connecting the Flex system at Au Bon Pain were not operational.

Since the communications workers of America Local 1298 went on strike on Sun., Aug. 23, telephone installation and repair service in the New Haven area has been practically nonexistent. And while the strike is frustrating for students like Carter, Arthur Liou, SM '01, a member of the Student Labor Action Coalition (SLAC), believes there are larger issues at stake.

"Students need to realize that there's a world beyond the Yale campus," Liou said. "This is an issue of making sure workers benefit from the prosperity of corporations."

SNET's 6,500 striking workers complain of a two-tiered payroll system, unfair wages compared to other telephone companies, and insufficient medical benefits.

On Mon., Aug. 31, about 12 SLAC members joined union members on the picket line. Then, on Thurs., Sept. 10, students marched with workers all the way from Long Wharf Drive to SNET headquarters on George Street.

"I want to live in a place where people live a decent life, make decent wages, and get decent health care," SLAC lead organizer Connor Martin, TC '00, said. "New Haven is definitely not a perfect city."

Since 1991, SNET has experienced a 51 percent increase in profit, while the company's CEO, Dan Miglio, received a 194 percent raise in base pay. Workers' wages, however, have been frozen for over four years, and 21 percent of the workforce has been cut since 1991.

Liou, who helped organize student involvement in the march, said, "The workers were very receptive to us, and if the strike continues, [SLAC] will be stepping up [its] involvement." The coalition hopes to open Yale's eyes to the conflict and to help the workers achieve their goals.

SNET executives refused to comment, but one manager, who has spent the last few weeks answering phones, revealed that the company is badly understaffed.

Meanwhile, students try to retain their optimism. "In a way, it's actually been kind of nice," Aaron Greenblatt, CC '00, said. "Now we never have to interact with people that we don't want to. It's kind of a `don't call me, I'll call you' situation, which is pretty satisfying at times." The expression has clearly taken on a new meaning.

Back to News...