Faculty Protest Against the 1973 Student Strike, Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio

If your being is infinite that will be disappointing what humility was about what happened for. The group of faculty members some from the faculty union. And some non faculty of new members who are deeply concerned about the fact that the strike has created very substantial problems for all of us include the students the faculty members and we believe we feel that the administration has the main responsibility for its continuation and we've decided we want to go to the administration and express our concern for the breakdown of the conditions under which the students can really learn and urged the faculty the administration Energy Administration to. Negotiate a strikingly good face and settle the matter. Mice these are my sentiments personally. The sentiments of those all together are

expressed in a petition that's being presented so perhaps you know to get the wording of the petition. OK it reflects in the main the general consensus among the faculty members. Thank you that was Mary Kaufman with. Us and what's your role. I teach mathematics and also vice president of the local of the American Federation of Teachers. Yes. But what are your feelings on what's happening right now. Well I'm glad to see people coming out to express themselves against what seems to me the deplorable role that the administration has been playing in various aspects of college the path of motion in connection with the strict present strike. Yes and I'm. I would hope that for too long we could get some sort of settlement. I realize it marks like decision by itself because it's going to bring about seven

but it leads to express the opinion of. A segment of the faculty. What do you see is as right now the major a major blockage to the settlement of this issue between ministration and say the rest of the people in any culture. They may do well I would. It seems to me looking at the history of the situation that the major block which is the summary firing of 23 workers from the caf. I realize there are other issues involved too that will have to be settled but that looks to me like being made to one. Thank you for speaking with merit of Dallas. Do you have any words to add to. No I said I was listening to what Phillips said and I would agree with that. I think that. It's the. Sin in me a crass handling of. Think of the problem workers that were laid off. Just negligent and. Beyond human personnel terms.

I think. That. The thing that sparked it. But I think there are. Real underlying problems. With an equity that have to be straightened out. So I'd agree with that too but that's not necessarily the opinion of the station. Although I think it is we're now entering the White House of any college. System so. I think we will be right. We have a. Minute. Let's not petition exactly I state my statement that a number of times is another good thing. Other people sign. That. They are standing outside James Dixon softs team sticks are now burning and the striking

faculty members read the statement it you'll see expresses our feeling that lots of product at the college and from think right on this is if you take you are feeling it just right the. Administration has been much more polite and me to write. Our. Own. Statement that we might prompt them and negotiate. Yeah well a couple things I'd like to say first I'd like to say that you'll at least appreciate you know the consideration in the presentation this is a. Second way I appreciate its clarity and directness. You know I think that's. Absolutely. I share. You know the cause that. We. Complete this matter so. There I can simply join.

You in that and that and. I have a sense that. Just like. Somewhat touching Beth I guess just now got word from. The folks. To whom in the sense the final processes of trust that's to say I mean group. Got together this no this agreed to come together. And kind of talk among one. And I suspect we need to give them all the support we can. Because in the sense that they are the people who are in that kind of setting a really caring. Responsibility of who did you know who the people are that are involved. My understanding is and this is the formal bargaining team of the representatives from the two unions and the formal representation from the company. And there's a full team and. You know and. People. What about work. You're not separating yourself from

the representatives of the administration on the bargaining team are you. That is I mean it doesn't. I think I heard you say I think I understood you to say that the question of the disposition of negotiation is up to the the bargaining team. But I'm not so you're not separating yourself in terms of policy from the bargaining team representing the administration or of course we you know we actually are coming into us right to you. That's right I acknowledge with that you know I have special accountability you have a special accountability dollars that accountability and relationship of course. I think the reason we're here. I'm not a member of the Union but I'm I share sentiments right and I think one strong reason we're here is that we want. More community input. We don't want to just sit and wait. And that is something we can talk of the room.

I really don't know at the moment. I will undertake you know in response to your inquiry to be sure you know that the people know. That we have received this communication. You know so that in a sense this is not merely my acknowledging it but part of the data. That you know people will have on and one day when they work together I think the members don't you know at the moment don't know invention. Martin. Well listen here you know. How many people are actually joining the administration negotiating. The management team and yet as I guess it's called is. The same thing as has three members. All of them as its chairman or a clearance and the other two members of the team. And my understanding is a further meeting was called agreed to forget about the moment I would like to express some of the thoughts of our concerns which were and to the extent that I haven't been designated to be a spokesman for this group and I hope

those who whose ideas I'm not reflecting will excuse me but I'm going to reflect what I consider to be the sentiments of most of the people here and that is we have three levels of concerns here. We have first we have the level of concern which is fundamental to our way of life and that's a question of job security. We think that's something that ought not to be tampered with except under the most extraordinary of circumstances and we don't feel that we have. Those extraordinary circumstances here. Job security is one the other one is we cannot separate. The interests of the students from the interests of the workers. We find that the students rights in this matter have been in a sense seriously disregarded and I think that the. What I consider to be here I speak for myself and in flexibility in the position of the administration has been a rock to the detriment of the students interests because prices which are being held are being held under the most adverse of circumstances. That is their they don't have library facilities. There's a tremendous

amount of emotional disturbance. There are all kinds of problems there are ambiguities in people's feelings. There is a kind of a divisiveness that's being stimulated here and I think that in a sense in the interest of the or all of us in the interest of Yellow Springs Antioch in the interests of the workers and in the interests of the faculty members and in the interest of the students that there should be considerable moral flexibility on the part of the administration in the negotiations than I have witnessed to this day. Are there are there other things that people feel need. To break. I. Wonder. Why. Yeah.

We respect the form of like tobogganing that people have agreed upon. And they know that is mutually agreed upon by both the management and the union and that is a form of collective bargaining in which. The unions decide upon who their representatives will be and we decide who their representative be and those then become of the group who are privy to all the data we have the right to go and know and seek advice on questions that that's the central group which conducts things those that are part of the formal negotiations. You know there's a certain amount of criticism of that form of negotiation is adequate to our circumstances. Given the kind of definition Mary Baker I acknowledge that you know as being a. Field that seeks a ministry for the cafeteria I think that's absurd to have so many people to direct the Cafferty they may call because I think if you are man this money runs over a hundred thousand dollars with the with the salary of

emitted salaries and the benefits I think it would be a good indication of the administration to keep. Some of this on Mr. Deaves to meet these days. This college deficit I think doesn't really help. That's my personal. I'm something in this. This parody or whatever it is across the bargaining table disturbs me and that is I think it's clear to whom the negotiators for the UAE and the part time workers to whom they feel they are responsible you know they I assume that they go back to their unions and tell them you know where they are etc. etc. I think it's fairly clear in what you know what ways information and power flows. Now I don't think that's at all clear. You know on the administrative side if those you know three people the name I'm not sure that any of us see that they are responsible to us. You know as part of the community not just to us but to us as a segment of the community and other segments of the

community and as well. I mean where you know where is their responsibility you know to whom are they really responsible in this situation the three people that supposedly are representing the interests of. The administration. I don't mean this Sunday that was applied defensively but to the best of their ability they're responsible to the whole community. You know to the best of their ability. Just as I suspect that the people who represent the union in this particular form trying to the best of their ability to represent their own interests and the interests of the community. But you know I think that's that's a that's very limited. It does come across as a piety. I acknowledge that it might. You know. Acknowledge. The fight. I'm sorry I don't know what the question was because who who made the decision that it would be those people the three

you mentioned who would represent the card enters that's rather than Will you Mr regulated decision that's his responsibility as an officer of the college to make the management response in the situation that's his decision. Do you know that in my opinion I think this problem can be resolved quickly. If the administration would sit down and seriously negotiate I don't think it has to be prolonged I think the price we're all paying for are the rigidity on the part of the administration is wholly unnecessary I really think that this that you should be able to sit down and work out some way to guarantee they jobs for all of the workers involved in the situation I'm not interjecting myself into any of the other demands. But when I think of the cost to all of us of the holding back on this very critical and crucial question I begin to wonder if we're not just sitting standing here and just making words. You really can settle the matter. I really think you can. I don't think that it's being worked at. It was act agree of

seriousness I don't think you're taking into account the terrible cost of this strike to all of the concerned people and and especially to Antioch College. I think you do have to sit down and say Now those workers we're going to replace them we should place them and solve this problem before it does get out of hand. It's a terribly costly prolonged negotiation that need not happen you can solve it. This is how I feel about it. I think we can. Well then we should be delighted but I think that all of the workers have guaranteed jobs. I understand what you're saying and I think that this is well understood. As a as approachable by all of the people who are dealing with the question who could get a little more specific answer. As to. Who those three negotiators. Who do they report back to ON THE on the progress of the negotiations or anything else for that matter. I mean to whom are they directly responsible I don't I mean I don't think that really answers it to say that they were appointed by you know by

by Reagan. So whom are they answerable that's you know because you know I think that's a crucial point here. What power they have and to whom do they report back to for acceptance or whatever. Now I assume that if they come up with some kind of solution you know. Doesn't the executive board of the Union have to take it back to the union for their approval. OK not to whom does the administration side have to take it for. I mean I think we can get a specific answer in a formal sense. This particular this particular negotiating group proposed deal regen regen is free to ask the advice and assistance of anybody in the community in terms of whatever. He needs to know. You know in order to act in relationship to that. So in other words you're saying that he has the sole responsibility he has for all of us in this situation the very principle responsible. If you have.

The restrictions put on him by networking restriction as to what he may agree to what you may not agree to. Restrictions or any guidelines that he must adhere to. I guess really the only thing that's come up about the network is whether or not there are network funds to support some of the demands that were made and in that he has been advised and let me comment briefly. The dining hall situation is is one aspect of a larger financial situation that we are in which is not very good. Part of the causes of this are are external. I mean every college university in the country is suffering financially but we feel I think I speak for most of us. That part of the chorus of this financial problem has been. Misjudgments at best misjudgments at best on the part of the financial administrators. And because of these financial misjudgments now the community suffers that people who have had nothing to do with these misjudgments suffer.

So I guess I'm asking in terms of negotiations. What is the administration willing to do to acknowledge its responsibility and discharge its responsibility properly. Now that the misjudgments have been made why should the rest of us all have to suffer. You're entitled to make a statement about misjudgment but I don't have to respond you know affirmatively that. Any solution of as major an economic question as this you know no matter where it might be throughout India has of potential impact of course on all of that. You know that's clear. And it's a little hard to measure that. I think the alternatives that are being proposed. That is to say the question that Mary raised. Above full employment versus. The proposal which is presently before the union does have a sick the you know there are significant different financial outcomes to those two proposals. One acknowledges knowing precisely you know what the impact would be. There's another here to my you have said

that your response unit one of the problems that we've been running into in this whole business is the fact that the administration has not been accessible to the community. I don't know why you're already doing it here but you see you are standing there and saying that you will make the decisions but you isn't here and every time we begin to negotiate it's always somebody else who has the power that doesn't have to be here. I was asked to be here and I'm here with you. I can't speak for anybody but myself. You know I was asked to be an example. You know you're not here when you're here it's very easy you know to refer to people here. Oh sure there's a. Member. That I have seen as a new faculty member is it's the lack of flexibility in the size. And registration to deal with this problem.

I think in the negotiation that you were planning to have if you had been going for I think two weeks trying to solve this problem. I think the administration should have. A lot more flexibility concerning the demands for the workers and this is a question that I have to be this is a question that many of the students are members of the community would have. In the negotiation they were planning to reopen tomorrow. I wonder if. You will have that flexibility dad. We. Will be opening the door you know for the solution to the problem. I hope so. You know as I've been here I've noticed a real lack of morale just low morale on the part of the community your Springs community and part of it I think is attributable. To the belief. That. They have a misjudgment on the part of ministration. I mean you may disagree. I think I think up

to that people believe this. And. This is this has never been responded to a morale keeps getting lower and lower even if the strike is settled one way or the other with the administration continuing to be inflexible on that score. It's not going to be good because morale will still continue to sink in and we will not be able track students with the faculty. I'm sensitive to the question you know I recognize. That in our peculiar form of social organization. You know people have roles. Faculty members have roles administrative roles students have roles in the attributions to role. And that people make judgments. And that we have openly very critical of one another's judgments about a great many things I recognize you know and I recognize that people make good judgments and they make poor judgments. I recognize that and acknowledge that like knowledge that. There are serious difficulties. In our own ideal. Which I share and subscribe to for an open

community on the one hand. And the firm structures which which we have as news to show the other I know is that and I go again so that that generates a lot of difficulty. We don't have we don't have this or power stems from the top. That's not my definition of an open community. And relationship it's a perception that's that just isn't like this is my particular personal perception on this campus. But I don't think that's fair. Excuse me in relationship to that I would like to speak only for myself but I think I would be like other people around here. And there are two things that really concern me. Why do I think that we look to the college to find other kinds of solutions. We have here we have something more humane something more creative. I think what has happened here in this situation here you know reflection of the wider society. In real. World. Power and we have you know. I'm not. With the. Main.

Mind of a solution and understanding people. As of the people who are at the bottom we have the least. Ability and resources to meet to. Go through an experience like this. And to fight back. Are the ones who are really varying the brunt of this thing and I really am. Very upset about an Iraq funding these kinds of solutions there are so many big things in the world that we need to be on to and working on. And here we're treating people like we don't care at all and we haven't any kind of human heart now. And that to me is really basic. The other thing is when it relates to this thing of morale is that we come here in the same room. There is some kind of dialogue in there can only be dialogue if there is mutual respect. And the people at the bottom don't have the kind of power. And so you people need to maybe just bend a little forward. Instead of backwards. To. Realize that the very people you know and they have their concerns and they deserve our respect. They're doing a dirty job for us here the rest of us we sit at the top and look down. But. We need dialogue around here some kind of mutual

respect. You're doing your thing the best you can I'm trying to do my things you're trying to do your thing. Why can't we sometimes get together with some goodwill. And I'm good. The human concerns come to the fore in our thinking and they act. Like different people. Right here and right now in what's going on and we acknowledge we would probably all meet in his judgment and mistaken will continue to do so. But can't we risk something a little more creative a little more and more a little more human. I really think these are the issues at stake right here and the students are concerned about it and saying we are and we are probably college and you are too. But we have to get together and yell at one another and also sit down and talk with real warmth and respect. And I just haven't seen that. Around for about a year. And it really. I mean. I've been here 15 years already. I can speak perhaps more disappointment the erosion of the new concept to me than my younger colleagues of course you should.

It seems to me that. In the last ten or a dozen years I've seen the virtual disappearance of any. Genuine consultative process any genuine participation any genuine. Use of the. Imagination the intelligence and the humanity. Of the many participants in this community particularly deeply the student and faculty. Populations. I think. You know all the you know all the previous years. The power and the excellence of the main enterprise which concerns us here. The. Educational. Process. Was never dislocated by our attempts to reach consensus. And repeatedly we reached consensus always. Generous overwhelming consensus in the resolution of the problems we dealt with. Well this is very very disappointing. Very disturbing.

I like to be rooted in North Korea. Really I'm really convinced that. It's going to. Problem is going to last. Until the administration comes down with. Some way of guaranteeing job security some way I don't know the formula at this point but someway. You know somehow I would hope that the more amount that can be offered as a. Measurement site. You know. We got because I hear what is being said when I should be reporting. You know. This and. I would like to add to that Jim is that my estimate every day that we continue with this strike is very bad. For the students for everybody concerned I would like to see a reaching an agreement with guaranteeing that was jobs without having necessarily worked out but they're on the payroll. They're guaranteed the jobs and time it may take time in order to put that into operation. But the guarantee and the payment should be should be

continued and then within time work it out. It can be worked out it should be worked out it has to be worked out. So I would like to see the strike ended tomorrow with an agreement on the job situation an agreement and a payment of the jobs and work it out. Without the costly things the cost the economically costly. Costly student costly thing of the continuation of the strike I'd like to make that proposal. Oh please. Here. We. Call it. Very different. You. Have it constantly. Ha ha ha. I think you. May be right. But if in fact my analysis tells me. That if that were to be the sequence of

displacement of resources from someplace for you. And that's what my analysis tells me and I think people accept it as fact. It altogether different set of negotiations that are involved in the way in which people. Will relate to the exercise the only sure that the what that means that it would secure been talking about again in communities.