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ACLU represented employee union that sought same benefits as other campus groups
Under threat of litigation from the ACLU of Virginia, the College of William & Mary has agreed to grant a campus labor union the same official status as other recognized employee associations. While acknowledging employees’ right to join a union, the College had previously refused to allow members of the United Electrical Workers Union, Local 160, to book campus rooms for free or advertise their meetings on the staff email, privileges that are afforded to similar groups that do not call themselves unions.
According to Rebecca Glenberg, the Virginia American Civil Liberties Union’s legal director, the College’s policy violated the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In an October 17 letter to Assistant Attorney General David Johnson, Glenberg warned that, if the College continued its unequal treatment of the union, the ACLU would represent the union in a lawsuit against the college. Just days later, Johnson notified Glenburg that the College would change its policy.
“A state university can’t play favorites when it comes to the right of association,” said ACLU of Virginia executive director Kent Willis. “If one group of employees who have banded together can be given special privileges, then all similar groups should be given the same privileges.”
Employee members of William & Mary’s “living wage campaign” organized themselves into a labor union over a year ago. Then called the William & Mary Labor Union, the group requested recognition as an employee organization in September of 2001.
After several months, Anna Martin, the college’s vice-president for administration refused the Union’s request, though two other staff organizations, HACE (the Hourly and Classified Employees association) and the Black Faculty and Staff Forum, are recognized by the administration.
In July 2002, the union-- then affiliated with the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America --contacted the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia.
Contacts: Kent Willis or Rebecca Glenberg, ACLU of Virginia, 804-644-8022