LETTER: Staff union has history of poor representation

Editor,

Why do we allow the US-UNM union to "represent" us? To date, the union has accomplished nothing, regardless of what they print in the Garlic Press. To date this is a history of US-UNM's non-representation:

2001 - Successful "negotiation of 6.5 percent pay increase". The legislature mandated this increase and the employees would have received it even if the union did not exist. Therefore, the negotiation was simply a rubber stamp on what would have happened anyway.

2002 - No increases. The legislature approved one, but Governor Johnson vetoed it. So there is no representation by the Union. Anything in the CBA is repetition of Big Red's policies, only now there is a middle man to tilt at UNM windmills when an employee is upset or feels has been sorely abused by UNM.

2003 - The legislature approved a 2 percent increase for staff, and human resources gave the departments leeway to give more, up to 4 percent. US-UNM has gone for step-in-grade, with no other bargaining position, should UNM reject this option. Well, UNM has rejected this, as predicted and there is no fallback, just a wall for the step-in-grade. Dues paying members have voted for impasse. Hurrah! No one gets anything again.

Oh, wait, maybe in September, or later. Well, swell. Maybe never. I grew up in a union family and I can honestly tell you, the union always had a fallback position, actually had several when negotiating with management. So tell me, what has US-UNM really done for us? What about re-thinking having a union, and having an honest vote to determine whether or not to decertify.

I would have received at least 4 percent if the union was not here to "help" us.

Catherine Osborn

Program Coordinator

Department of Neurology