Lab technicians, librarians and child care workers at Owens Community College in Ohio voted to join the 10-year-old Owens Faculty Association/AFT. The academic staff workers first came to the OFA last fall, motivated by the frustration of dealing with inconsistent college policies, unsatisfactory working conditions and a lack of fairness and respect, says Ohio Federation of Teachers field representative Tom Rose. They filed cards in December, and on Sept. 3 elections were held in three job categories, with lab technicians voting 17-2, librarians 8-1 and childcare workers 13-1 to opt into the OFA. Overall, the new units bring 47 new workers to the existing union of 194 faculty and counselors. [Trish Gorman]

[September 9, 2003]