Bookstore's employees fear job loss

Hayley Tsukayama News Editor

“We’re not going to allow them to take work away from us,” Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1120 President Glenn Carter told Vassar CWA members in a meeting last Wednesday, Jan. 30. The meeting was called in response to a notification informing the current bookstore employees that when the store moves off campus, it will stop employing union workers.

Over 100 workers attended Wednesday’s meeting to show their solidarity for the six workers in danger of losing their jobs.

The College plans to put the management of the new store up for bid later in its planning process. “The College will no longer be operating the bookstore,” said Director of Human Resources Ruth Spencer. The union claims this is in violation of the workers’ five-year contract with the College, which expires on June 30, 2010. Section 37-1 of that contract states that “the College shall not contract out work, if such contracting will cause and directly effect layoffs from employment with the College or part timing of present employees.”

Spencer said these contracts are “up to interpretation, and that the College is doing its best to resolve these issues.” “We’re working with the union to transition those workers,” said Spencer, “The most important thing is that the current employees had options, and can maximize those options.”
Spencer met with the CWA on Monday, Feb. 4 to further discuss the conflict. “The College is attempting to work this out; they are very amicable and forthright,” said the local’s Executive Vice President Mike Salvia, “but we believe this is our work and we have the right to follow the work.”

Carter said that his first priority is to have the CWA workers keep their current positions. “Regardless of who’s in charge, it’s still our work,” Carter said. He added that even if the employees are not carried over in the move, the union will ensure that they remain “gainfully employed” in other positions at the College. The six CWA workers are all long-time employees of the College—some have worked here for over 20 years. Both sides are optimistic that they can find a solution and that negotiations will run smoothly.

“What if they don’t run smoothly?” a union member asked from the crowd on Wednesday.

“Well, then I hope it gets warmer,” Carter said, “because we’ll be going out.”