Awkward Bass

It typically works that unionized employees enjoys more and better benefits that their non-unionized brethren. Typically. For instance, unionized workers are generally protected from being fired without cause. Not so for the non-unionized. Unionized workers tend to have guaranteed vacation time., whereas non-unionized workers are liable to see their vacation canceled if the bosses want it that way.

Here in Oregon, however, we do things a bit different. The way things are shaking out, it looks like our unionized public employees are going to be forced to take a certain number of "furlough" days, while our non-unionized public employees will be "encouraged" to take "voluntary" furlough days.

Again, the mechanism of faculty taking voluntary unpaid days off boggles the mind. I guess they will be asked to fill out some sort of form that just cuts their paycheck by a day or two.

I imagine that that furlough days are voluntary because most workers at the UO sign year-long contracts. If I remember right, the UO made a big thing in bargaining about how state law prevents the UO from signing any employement contracts longer than a year, even for tenured faculty. It will be interesting to see what happens when those contracts come up for renewal.

And I am sure that Provost Jim Bean has been on campus forever, but he's just now coming on my radar and I am loving the man. Check out this quote:

In response to numerous requests by faculty and staff to participate in the solution of these challenges, we are developing a mechanism for others to volunteer support.

I love the thought of a three-piece-suit wearing, watch fob dangling, brow mopping Provost Bean being overwhelmed with pleas from administrators and faculty to come up with some way that they, too, can cut their paychecks in this time of crisis. At the end of a hard day, he must basking the warmth that comes from knowing that deep down inside, people really do give and care and love their fellow man.

I, of course, abhor the thought of such feeling and am ready to tell the UO to fuck off as soon as someone lifts the phone and calls over here to ask/tell the GTFF that they will also be given the opportunity to volunteer some unpaid days off (hey, maybe during Spring Break!).