DAVID HARDEN

Graduate students Cathy Chaput, left, and Danika Brown rally yesterday in front of the Administration building in support of a forming a university employees union. One union member said 20 to 50 people per day have signed up to support the union cause.

Wednesday September 26, 2001

Officials say everyone has been very supportive

Faculty and staff involved in the unionization of all workers at the UA said their movement is picking up steam as more employees express interest.

Nearly all individuals involved in the formation of a union were on hand for a rally yesterday afternoon on the south steps of the Administration building.

Supporters of the union have been asking student workers, faculty and staff to fill out a card expressing their interest.

"We've been picking up 20 to 50 member cards every day," said Ray Figueroa, services director for the Arizona chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Figueroa said the solicitation of the member cards began during the summer.

He said the group would address its demands to the Arizona Board of Regents after it is proven the demands will benefit all who are involved.

A member of the Tucson chapter of the Paper, Allied-industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers Union said they are willing to help general employees and student workers achieve their goal.

"Results usually don't happen right away, but you need the power of a union," said Ben Lucero, a PACE union member.

One student sitting at the edge of the crowd was not supportive to its cause.

"It's ridiculous," said Jennifer Houser, a marketing junior. "(Teaching assistants) shouldn't be teaching classes anyway."

Unions at other schools have resulted in strikes. The unionization of a group of TAs at the University of Washington led to the strike of several TAs in the school's humanities and English department at the end of spring semester.

A TA supporting the Universty of Arizona union is not ruling out that idea.

"A strike is always a possibility, but we're not planning one right now," said Danika Brown, an English graduate teaching assistant.

UA employees are seeking to form a "wall to wall" union, covering everyone employed by the university below the level of department head.