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  November 12, 2005 It was a great victory for organized Labor yesterday when the Union ACT-UAW, after threatening a strike, achieved its first contract on behalf of over 1,500 part-time faculty members of the New School in New York City, obtaining better wages, benefits, working conditions and more. Teamsters Local 1205 represents nearly 200 non-teaching employees at the New School, including librarians, secretaries and office administrative employees. Our members are very proud of the stand they took in solidarity with the teaching faculty at the University. In this day and age when so much is written about divisions within organized Labor, members of Teamsters Local 1205 informed the New School that under no circumstances would they cross ACT-UAW's picket lines! The New School management was made aware that in the event of an ACT-UAW strike, it would be missing not only its part-time faculty but essential Teamster support staff as well. This pledge was made even though management threatened Local 1205 members repeatedly with termination of employment if they didn't report to work in the event of a strike. Local 1205 members stood united in support for another Union's fight, despite these threats and other divide-and-conquer techniques. Office assistants, mail clerks and others were prepared to go without wages to support the fight of professors. It was courageous of our members to take a principled stand not to cross an anticipated picket line. And the choice was effective! The bold power they displayed is an instance of what could be all across America if our fellow citizens were to see and act on this great Union motto: "An injury to one is an injury to all!"
The article originally appeared in the PR Newswire on November 1, 2005, and was written by Timothy Lynch, President of Local 1205 in Farmingdale, New York. |
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