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Craig Alderson for Chief Steward
Candidate Statement
A
committed rank-and-file steward is a force to be reckoned with. Knowledgeable,
confident, tenacious in defense of our contract and our coworkers, unintimidated
by management - a network of stewards at every campus will ensure that
what we gain in bargaining is not chipped away by our employer.
Building such a network demands someone with experience. I have been a union activist at UC for 15 years and a steward for 13. I have handled well over 100 grievances and know personnel policies and the law thoroughly. I have taken courses in arbitration, grievance handling, health and safety, and labor law, and I have conducted arbitration and unfair labor practice hearings. Under AFSCME, I served four years as chief steward at Berkeley and two years as the systemwide clerical unit representative. I have participated in systemwide and local bargaining. And I am not reluctant to challenge UC. In 1993, I was one of 6 union activists arrested at a Regents meeting in protest of the 5% pay cuts that year.
Our union's power comes from its local activists. I have given dozens of steward trainings at campuses around the state, and I created the "CUE Activist" e-mail listserve to allow stewards to share information. Recognizing the lack of support for local steward committees, I successfully argued to create this statewide chief steward position - the only one in any UC union.
I am excited about the possibilities. I hope to create a systemwide steward council to develop a coordinated response to pervasive problems -- abuses of medical separation, discrimination, casual employment status, waivers of seniority protection against layoff, etc. Education, training, and support of local activists is key. My plans include a steward newsletter and trainings in grievance handling, unfair labor practices charges, arbitration and ULP hearings, health and safety issues, and more. I want to create an on-line tracking system to allow the union to monitor grievances around the state, and an on-line archive of arbitration and ULP decisions.
In 1995, clericals took the courageous and unprecedented step of forming a new union. I am proud to have played a leading role in that effort. We have come a long way, but we still have far to go. I believe I can help get us there. Please support me and those who will carry the union forward:
- Claudia Horning (President)
- Debbie Ceder (Southern Vice President)
- Mark Covington (Northern Vice President)
- Elinor Levine (Treasurer)
Last updated July 4, 2000.