GODDARD COLLEGE EMPLOYEE UNION DRIVE

At the June 1995 Goddard College Board of Trustees meeting, faculty and staff employees of Goddard College initially notified the Board of concerted activity toward possible unionization. Discussion has continued to progress since then.

At Goddard College, where the ideals of progressive and democratic education are held foremost, faculty and staff strive to contribute toward governance and administrative duties. These expected responsibilities, however, fail to address the practical job concerns affecting Goddard employees every day. A union, uniting this worker community and empowering every wageearner, provides an equitable and professional forum for the settling of such personnel concerns in good faith: these personnel issues can be best resolved when the employer and employees meet together as equals, with rights and procedures guaranteed to each under collective bargaining laws.

Goddard staff and faculty grievances presently requiring immediate attention are:

* the lack of substantive contracts issued in a timely manner;

* the lack of a reliable, impartial grievance procedure; * staff being subjected to "speed up", job redefinition and overload;

* increased contracting out of services, with subbing out of former employees;

* circumvention of fair job evaluations and due lay-off process;

* the disparity of salary and benefits levels, and the proliferation of new, high-salaried administrators;

* direct intimidation of individuals by management, threats against job and benefits security;

* overlooking of seniority and long-standing dedication;

* low morale, lack of confidence in administration.

On April 19,1996, Goddard union organizers submitted a letter to Jane O'Meara Sanders (Chair of the Goddard College Board of Trustees, and Chief of Staff to Congressman Bernard Sanders, I-Vt) requesting voluntary recognition of a union when union card signatures have been collected. In light of the 1981 Yeshiva ruling, the Board's decision to grant voluntary recognition would save Goddard tremendous time, money, and divisiveness, and would show strong mutual respect on both sides. Union organizers have not yet received a formal response from Sanders or the Board.

CONTACTS

Daniel Chodorkoff, Faculty Manuel O'Neill, Staff