One Union, Over Easy
New developments in Pomona dining hall workers’ struggle
Despite recent developments between Workers for Justice and the Pomona administration, workers are still a long ways from forming an independent labor union. Pomona is discouraging unionization, and the recent documentation check does not please workers or student supporters.
For over a year, Pomona dining hall workers have struggled to gain access to improve health insurance, salaries, and working conditions. Pomona is not openly against a union, but disagrees with the dining hall workers’ organization Workers for Justice (WFJ), on how the union should be formed. In March 2010, WFJ called for the college to recognize the results of a card check, which is when workers sign cards asking for a union, and one if formed if over 50 percent of the workers sign on. Pomona, however, maintains that the only unionization method they would support is a National Labor Relations Board-regulated secret ballot.
Eric Martinez PO ‘14, a student involved in WFJ, says Pomona has launched an anti-union campaign, taking subtle actions that may undermine the formation of the union, like cutting workers’ healthcare costs. On Nov. 4, dining hall tables were covered with flyers reading: “Workers for Justice: In the midst of our organizing drive, the college has lowered the cost of health insurance!” Pomona had decreased the health insurance costs of the workers by 47 percent for two party coverage and 64 percent for family coverage.
On the surface, this was seen as a victory for workers. However, some are suspicious of the cuts because they worry Pomona can use them to “win over” some of the workers, making them think that a union is unnecessary.
Pomona has also attempted to prevent students from helping workers unionize. “I was talking to some of the workers at Frary during their break when their manager came and said that it wasn’t allowed so I should leave,” Martinez recalls. “Pomona doesn’t want the students to talk to the workers because they know that our support makes them stronger. Pomona is here for the students so if the students ask [for] a union, that should work.”
Later that day, Vice President and Treasurer of Pomona College Karen Sisson sent an email to students emphasizing that they are not allowed to engage in conversations with dining hall workers while they are working. The email did not mention the appropriate venue for conversation.
Martinez’s experience and Sisson’s failure to specify when it is appropriate for students to talk to dining hall workers reveals a communication breakdown between the administration and students, and is giving Pomona another way to suppress unionization efforts.
Shortly after this incident, Pomona President David Oxtoby emailed students about the legal authorization of certain Pomona workers, including students and faculty. Oxtoby explained that Pomona had been accused of not obtaining proper documentation from employees. In order to eliminate these accusations, the college “engaged out- side compliance experts” to investigate. These experts found that 84 employees had some “deficiencies.” Each of the 84 employees has until December 1 to hand in documents, or they will be terminated.
At a protest against the documentation check held on Nov. 16, Felipa Sanchez, a cook at Pomona, explained that with the checks on immigration status, the college was threatening their livelihood and destroying their connection with the students. “I have given 23 years of my life to cooking warm meals for the students on this campus,” said Sanchez. “Why now is my job being threatened?”
While the unionization and documentation issues are visible on Pomona’s campus, many students do not fully understand what is happening. “We know what is going on with the Pomona workers,” said Andrés Garduno PO ‘15. “But we still don’t know what is going on.”
Garduno echoes the exact sentiments of many Pomona students, especially first years. It is shocking to find these allegations leveled against the college you had been waiting all summer to attend, and it is difficult to comprehend why Pomona would seemingly refuse to treat its workers with respect.
On the WFJ website, many workers tell heart-breaking stories of how difficult it is to get by on what they earn. This is not so much a struggle between the Pomona administration and workers as it is a fight for equality and the general well being of everyone in our commu- nity. The best way forward is to ensure that there are clear communication lines between the Pomona administration, WFJ, and students.
Regardless of disagreements between Pomona and its workers, it is important for members of the Claremont community to remember that respect is important, and that we owe it to each other to help where we can. As President Oxtoby said in his 2011 commencement speech, “people matter.” It would be beneficial to our whole community if we could all hold fast to these words and interact with everyone accordingly.
Why is this a workers struggle?
The simple issue is can these workers prove that they can work here legally. It is that simple.
Its not about fairness or any of the other BS that is being bandied about. “I have given 23 years of my life to cooking warm meals for the students on this campus,” said Sanchez. “Why now is my job being threatened?” If Mr. Sanchez is qualified to work here then there is no threat to his job. If Mr. Sanchez is not legally allowed to work here then whose Social Security number has he been using for 23 years? What about the identity of the person whose number he is using? Where is the respect for that person’s ‘rights?’ Mr. Sanchez knows if he has been here legally for 23 years – and the sob story is just that – a sob story. What about the American citizen or legal immigrant who did not get the job for the last 23 years? Where is the sense of outrage for that persons family?
You are aware that if the college allows illegal aliens to work here, they place at risk 100% of not only federal grant moneys to faculty but also your student loans and the grants the students get? You students are not that stupid are you? Truly? You don’t know that?
The administration needs to comply with the law. Is it also not a convenient method to get rid of the rid of their troublemakers – yes- I’m sure they are doing it in major part for that reason. It is how the unionization issue is played on both sides.
And you students are being played by the union. They are appealing to your over-emphasized sense of fair play and fairness – whatever the hell that means. What is fair? Should the University comply with the law? Thats fair and reasonable, right? Should they only hire those legally able to work here? Why, you would not want them to put your subsidized student loan at risk, would you? Should the university allow the workers to unionize? Sure – why not. Again, as long as the workers know exactly what the union will cost them, exactly what they will get, and then how their dues will be spent.
I have seen many many employees want out of a union within months of getting in . . . it costs them $2000 a year and do not get $2000 more in wages and benefits –
Believe what you want – once you know all of the facts – not the hype – hype comes on both sides of this issue. Until your BS detectors are better tuned I recommend that all college students think before they feel about a particular issue –
ALWAYS ask yourself – cui bono . . . who benefits. And there is your answer in life to everything.
Hello there!
Thank you for your comments, although there is really no need to be so insulting and vulgar. People have different views on this matter, and it’s great that you have expressed yours. If American employers do not want to hire illegal immigrants, they shouldn’t do it in the first place. This is not in relation to Pomona, but some people, especially in the Agricultural sector do it so they can pay lower wages.
If you hire ANY worker, illegal, legal, treat them right. If you won’t, don’t. And if you don’t want issues like this one, then be clear on your policies and don’t hire illegal people.
Thanks again!