A member of Graduate Employees Together (GET-UP), the graduate employees organization at the University of Pennsylvania, briefed Rep. Richard Gephardt (D.-Mo.) and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean about the atmosphere for labor organizing at the university. Joanna Kempner, a GET-UP member and former spokeswoman for the organization, was one of eight labor union representatives who met with the two presidential hopefuls on July 31. The meeting was part of a series of briefing sessions organized by the AFL-CIO.

In two sessions--one with each candidate-- the unionists talked about the state of labor relations in the United States from the perspective of the rank and file. They described ways the National Labor Relations Act allows employers to legally block employees from exercising their right to form unions. "I think it was instructive for them to hear what regular workers go through every day when they try to form a union," says Kempner.

The candidates were deeply concerned about the story of GET-UP's protracted legal battles, Kempner reports, mentioning GET-UP's difficulties first in getting a decision from the National Labor Relations Board that the union had the right to hold an election, and then, the current struggle to be allowed to count the ballots that have been impounded since February when the NLRB election finally was held. Despite community support for the union, Penn president Judith Rodin has been unalterably opposed to allowing the process leading to bargaining to go forward.

The candidates pledged their support to the union. Rep. Gephardt said he would circulate a letter to colleagues in the House and Senate that would be sent to Rodin, asking her to count the ballots and recognize the union. He also said he would try and speak to her. Gov. Dean agreed to try and meet with her as well and may join in other efforts, such as participating in a rally with GET-UP supporters.

"This will galvanize our organization," says Kempner. "National attention legitimates our cause."

Earlier this summer, Rodin, who is a registered Democrat, informed the UP board of trustees that she would be stepping down from the university after this academic year. Some believe that she plans to seek public office. GET-UP hopes her political aspirations will moderate her views on the union, says union staffer Jeff Hornstein.

On another front, GET-UP is running an online petition to put national pressure on the university to count the February ballots. To sign the "Count Our Votes" petition, visit the union's Web site at: www.petitiononline.com/getup03/petition.html.
[Barbara McKenna]

[August 8, 2003]