CSU employees' Union is hosting rally in support of ASI - State Hornet

California State University Union of employees He hosted a rally in support of employees Associated students, Inc. From the Quad Library, Tuesday, March 4.

The leaders of CSUEU, organizers and state students from Sacramento Li were joined representatives of the various other unions and activist groups, in response to the suspension of Jason Cortright, an employee who was suspended to discuss the recent racial discrimination by former employees at the ASI Children’s Center.

Participants gathered in a circle, while several speakers presented various stories about maltreatment, union-related news and general information and goals.

Periodically, the group would burst into songs, shouting phrases like: “When we fight, we win!” And “you’re not alone!”

Nabil Cristillo, the main organizer of the CSUU Sac State chapter, said CSUEU has taken fast legal measures to support Cortright and fight with his suspension.

“When we learned that Jason was suspended, we immediately transformed us in a quick action,” Cristillo said, “we submitted legal accusations, then our executive to CSUU sent a letter of request to the executive director for ASI.”

During the rally, Cortright said that the support of the Union helped him feel less alone. Other participants said that unions are important in defense against mistreatment at work and justice for workers.

As a member of the negotiation team, Crisillo has provided information about the problems that the employees have raised. He said he heard accusations of racism from the workers in the children’s center for some time.

“Some women have started to address me that they have resigned from the children’s care center, telling stories about problems such as flagrant racism and a lot of micro -ages,” Cristillo said.

Between speeches, Cristillo said that the director of the ASI Children’s Center was put on administrative leave. The reason for leave is currently unknown.

Cristillo also said that President CSUEU sent a letter to the President of the State of SAC, Luke Wood, on February 28, asking something about Cortright’s suspension and that he shed light on the fact that women of color have reported racism.

The State Hornet addressed the president’s office for comments, but was sent to the press release.

Catherine Hutchinson, the president of the chapter of the islands Channel Csueu, was one of the speakers at the event. She said that CSUEU is determined to defend both the union and non-syndical workers in the state of the SAC and ASI.

“You heard the couple stories today that the workers were not treated correctly, they were abused, they are facing discrimination and everything,” Hutchinson said. “We are an organization that will not tolerate this, so we decided to enter and help them to be unionized so that they can fight for their rights.”

Once the speeches were completed, the representatives of CSUEU spent time recruiting and educating interested students about the Union, their mission, as they could help.

Cameron Wyatt, a third year of computer science, said he worked as an IT specialist at the Education College continues for nine months, before being left with a notification of only two and a half days, which causes him to join a short time. Wyatt said that the students’ employees were facing resistance from the administrative groups on campus in the organizing efforts.

“We have a lot of different departments in campus, truly strongly pushing back to us,” Wyatt said. “We don’t want to talk to the students. They do not want to know their rights, because someone who is informed about their rights is someone who is much harder to push. “

Wyatt said he supports the formation of a union to plead for workers’ rights, after unions have made him feel empowered to withstand injustice as a result of his own feedback experiences.

“Union is the strongest tool available for student assistants, especially in a job scene in which employers and managers look at us as qualified trainees,” said Wyatt. “We need protection and I think we must talk our voices to prevent situations such as what happened to me in the past and what happened to many, many others.”

Cristillo said that workers have the right to obtain support from third parties, such as a union, to solve the mistreatment of workers in situations such as Cortright’s, Wyatt’s and The Copil’s Center.

“The workers feel that their only outlet to issue the resolution is to reach HR, and what they have really learned quickly, especially in children’s health and care centers, is that HR is not your friend,” Cristillo said.

The executive director of ASI, Hoan Nguyen, published a press release on March 4, who said that ASI is not anti-syndic and takes a neutral position. The statement also said that ASI is aware of the statements made by CSUEU regarding the suspension and accusations of discrimination and improper conduct of Cortright at the Children’s Center and that they will be properly managed if the investigations reveal any violation of the policy.

ASI also confirmed Cortright’s suspension due to charges of “improper and intimidating conduct” towards student employees. The statement said that the suspension is a standard practice during an ongoing investigation and there is no reprisals for promoting and supporting unionization.

Hutchinson said that CSUEU remains firm in support of the right of CSU employees in collective negotiations. She said that CSUEU aims to highlight the value of the unionization for workers in the entire CSU system.

“We wanted to share a few stories that show why these people need a union,” Hutchinson said. “We try to organize many more workers.”

Abigail Tafoya, a third year of health sciences working for ASI Peak Adventures and an organizer for CSUU, said he came to support other employees of ASI.

“I have heard stories from other people and it affects me personally,” she said. “I would like to work for a company that wants to pick up their workers, not to put them down.”

Wyatt said he was grateful for pouring support from the SAc State Community, especially after experiencing mistreatment.

“I feel grateful that there are many people who are willing to stand behind the action and represent our assistants who have been unfairly treated,” Wyatt said. “Seeing that many people are ranking behind this cause gives me a feeling of motivation.”

Cristillo said he shared Wyatt’s feelings, but that work for labor rights is far from end. He said he believes that the workers have the right to express the dissatisfaction, without fear of reprisals from their employer.

“The purpose, finally, is that the workers from ASI have the right to form their union without fear of intimidation and reprisals,” Cristillo said. “They want to be able to have the same rights that all CSU staff faculties on Campus have, which is the collective negotiation.”