Stable staff contests claims of mistreatment
A recent letter writer (March 25, "Miami equestrian staff mistreats stabled horses") questioned the care of horses at Miami University's stables. Please know the horses at Miami are appreciated and well cared for by the staff and students. A great deal of time and effort go into the daily operations and planning for these animals. The facility directors-in coordination with the veterinarian, farriers and proper Miami officials- monitor the horses and their environment daily.
It is important to ensure the proper amount of turnout in the right conditions so the horses get daily exercise. When inclement weather is expected, a long-range plan is put in place for the week and adjusted hourly as things change. Many recent changes include the addition of sheltered hay mangers to keep horses and their feed out of the weather, as well as sheds that are present for the horses that are turned out.
Staff monitors the creek level, and while it hasn't crested above its banks, some water in the pastures may pool from run-off into the low-lying areas. When this water interferes with the horses entering their shelters they are brought in immediately. As one might guess, we monitor the horses' conditions in all weather-including snow and heat. The horses wear waterproof blankets in cold, wet weather and are checked daily under these blankets to ensure their comfort and health.
We welcome the Oxford community to come and enjoy the stables, witness the care of the horses and ask questions.
Lori CramerDirectorEquestrian Centercramerla@muohio.edu
Union supports SFS cause, recognizes wage disparity
Some recently published letters in The Miami Student compel a response from the labor union that represents the service and maintenance staff at Miami University, AFSCME Local 209. We, the union's leadership, have refrained from submitting letters to the editor because we feel the student paper is a forum for students. However, some of the letters in question have been interpreted by the staff as anti-worker, so we feel obligated to respond. We present the following information to clarify and give credence to Students for Staff and their living wage movement.
In regards to Benjamin Alexander's letter (Feb. 1, "Students for Staff should donate tax returns to fund") and the alleged "inappropriate Students for Staff outburst" during the Colin Powell lecture at Millet Hall-the fact is, the individual who spoke out that night is not a member of Students for Staff, although he obviously shares their convictions. We applaud this person for having the courage to speak up. As for the "smoking gun" insinuation in Taylor Wessels' letter (Feb. 15, "Students for Staff must present concrete argument"), all students have to do is look around and they'll see plenty of "smoking guns" on campus. Every day the smoking guns clean, provide meals and maintain the university's grounds and buildings. In fact, we perform our job duties to a high standard. For example, in 1996 the Physical Facilities (PFD) employees won the coveted The Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers (APPA) award in which workers compete nationally against other physical plants, with the winners being distinguished as the best in the nation.
Over this year's spring break, PFD had a meeting in which a consulting firm reported the result of a two-year study to benchmark Miami's PFD department against twelve other peer institutions of the same size, work force and budget. The report shows that the PFD employees at Miami University outperformed all other physical plant work forces in their peer institutions in every category, yet at the same time, we are the lowest paid.
The workers in the Housing, Dining and Guest Services (HD&GS) Department dining hall division have given Miami one of the finest food service operations in the nation and the resident hall staff consistently maintain a high level-90 percent or greater-of customer satisfaction. Other numerous awards can also be accredited to the HD&GS Department employees. Awards such as these can only be accomplished with employee support. Our record shows that the employees do their part to help the university meet and exceed their goals, but that excellence is not reciprocated with a wage that covers the staff's basic necessities.
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As discussed in a letter from Students for Staff, union busting and anti-labor practices are alive and well at Miami University. In 1989, the university unilaterally withdrew its recognition of the union, refusing to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement. This was an illegal practice that was litigated in court from 1989 to 1995. During the years between negotiations, the employees' wages, benefits and work conditions started a downward trend. At the end of those six years the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in favor of the union, finding the university guilty of unfair labor practices and ordering Miami back to the bargaining table to negotiate a contract-but at that point the damage was done. Miami's attempt to engage in union busting continues on today, which may help explain why an anti-union lawyer sits on the Board of Trustees.
The history of poor labor relations at Miami University coincides with substandard wages. Since the university's six years of unfair labor practices, the wages have been below those of our peer institutions. In 1996 the university hired the Mercer Consulting firm to conduct a salary survey that determined the market competitiveness of the university's compensation. They reported that Miami's overall wage structure was 18 percent to 19 percent below market value.
When an impasse occurs between employers and unions, the state of Ohio appoints a fact finder, who represents the state, to intervene in the bargaining process and offer a recommendation that the state considers to be fair to both sides. In 2003, before the strike, a fact finder recommended a wage scale that would give employees, on average, a 25 percent raise. To summarize, the state defined a fair wage for Miami University. The employees, the union and the University Senate accepted the fact finder's recommendation, but Miami's administration did not. Both the fact-finder and the Mercer report are available at www.musfs.org or by calling the union office at 513-523-3400.
The same poor labor relations and unfair wages exist today. The staff at Miami are still paid below their peer employers, a point which the university admitted during the 2006 contract negotiations. Even though our Miami staff outwork all comparable institutions, they still are not afforded an equitable wage that covers their basic necessities.
AFSCME Local 209 Executive Board
Mattie Gray President
Mark SawyerVice President
Tiki Digby Recording Secretary
Shirley Young Treasurer
Darrell AbramsWendell DavisStanley GreggDustin JonesRebecca WilkinsBill WomacksTony Quinnwww.afscme209.org/
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