By Tue Tran & Andrew Schofield, Gavel Editors – (Photo: Sharon Costello / Gavel Editor)

Today, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 615 will vote on what Boston College administration has titled the “Last, Best Offer for a New Collective Bargaining Agreement with SEIU Local 615.”

According to John*, a union worker who wished to remain anonymous, BC has stated that they will not renew the contract that is set to expire Feb. 1.

The New Proposal

The new contract proposal’s term will be for four years from June 1, 2009, through and including May 31, 2013.

During this time, wages would increase 1.5 percent for the first year. Increases every subsequent year for the duration of the contract will be the same percentage increase as BC will provide for merit increases in general for other employees.

Article 18, the issue at the center of the heated debate, would be removed, and an addition would state that nothing in the contract “shall operate to prevent the University from exercising its right to undertake such contractual services as it may from time to time deem necessary or desirable.”

Overtime pay for the seventh day of work would be two times the normal hourly rate, but the employee must have worked the six days before – no paid or unpaid time off prior to the seventh day.

Other changes made include funeral leave for the death of a daughter-in-law or son-in-law, a sick leave incentive, the establishment of an apprenticeship program, among others.

What A “No” Vote Means

If the union votes to oppose the offer, two key elements will go into effect after the current contract expires next month.

1)   The workers will lose the ability to arbitrate grievances.

2)   Workers will be able to hold informational pickets and strike.

But striking is not on the minds of workers right now. “We’re still going to work,” John said, even if their contract with BC expires. The workers, however, are also ready to fight.

There is the possibility that BC could call for a “lockout,” meaning that they could prohibit the union workers to report to work.

With regard to BC continuing negotiations, “They’re still required to bargain with us,” Howard Ryan, a senior representative of the union, said.

Worker Sentiments

John believed that BC giving a “last, best offer” without more negotiations is unfair. “This is typical BC,” he said. “They rule with an iron fist. If they want something, they jam it down your throat.”

“This don’t-get-in-my-way style of upper management must stop,” John said. ”We as union members understand good and bad economic times. That is why the union members at BC agreed that it is time to make reasonable concessions.”

To John, “reasonable concessions” include the union’s proposed pay freeze for one year, the giving up of double overtime for the seventh consecutive day of work, and the allowance of BC to subcontract out football stadium seat clean up and summer cleaning in the Mods.

John also stated that the yearly income figure in the Boston Globe article misrepresented the amount the average worker receives, which is closer to $40,000.

“Although economic times do change,” John said, “what is right and wrong never changes. The union members are asking the Jesuit, Catholic leaders of the BC community to please step in at this very crucial time.”

Students’ Efforts

Last Thursday, members of Students for BC Worker Justice delivered a petition signed by nearly 1,300 members of the BC community including students, faculty, and alumni to Robert Lewis, human resources associate vice president. The petition asked the administration to “stop threatening the livelihoods and job security of these workers; and negotiate with the union in a manner consistent with the University’s Catholic and social mission.”  Union members in the negotiating room met the students with applause as the petition was delivered.  Earlier in the morning, students also delivered a copy of the petition to University President William P. Leahy, SJ.

The administration could not be reached at this time.

*Check back at www.bcgavel.com for today’s developments.