VOL. 103 ISSUE 9_ FOGHORN.USFCA.EDU NOVEMBER 16t2006 Contraversial Able Forum on North Korea Missis Crisis At USF Contract Deliberated SETAREH BANISDR McDonald a "liar" after he had stated that been unionized for a long enough period StaffWriter Able had presented a final contract offer 2 of time to negotiate for higher wages. She 1/2 weeks ago, and had not yet heard back mentioned that some of these unions have n Tuesday, Nov. 7, members of from the union. McDonald said in an e- not been established as long as SEIU has. the USF community and ASUSF mail the morning after Tuesday's meeting, Although the minimum wage in Osenate had the opportunity to "I checked with Able immediately before San Francisco is currendy $8.82, Mi­ hear both sides ofthe recent contract con­ the meeting, and again this morning, and randa said that anyone hving in the city' troversy with Able Building Maintenance the company has assured me that it has knows how expensive it is. She says Co., whose position the University sup­ not been contacted by the union is any that the janitors are forced to struggle, ports, and janitors at USF, represented by way." In addressing the student senators sometimes living several families to the union SEIU Local 87. This issue has McDonald wrote in his email, "I am dis­ one home in order to make ends meet. to do with the call for renegotiations of appointed that the Senators did not more Able Co. has proposed a tiered system a proposed new contract for the workers. aggressively pursue this matter in its ques­ in which the new janitors will start at 70% The union members are requesting wage tioning of the union representative and of the amount current workers receive, increases as well as a new benefits pack­ did not get to the bottom of the matter." gradually adjusting the pay up to 100% age. The senate was addressed first by The current wage for janitors at USF according to the amount of hours worked. Gary McDonald, University spokesper­ is $17.25 per hour. Able has offered a The union does not favor this tiered system son on behalf of USF and Olga Miran­ 3% wage increase for the workers for because they feel it is unfair and that it will da, SEIU Local 87 union representative. the next five years. The wages would im­ create a hostile work environment because Following Tuesday's meeting, McDon­ mediately increase to $17.77 per hour some employees will be making more mon­ ald said in an e-mail made available to the and then would rise to $20 per hour in ey than others while doing the same job. HUNTER PATTERSON/FOGHORN Foghorn that he was disappointed that he 2010. McDonald states that compared to In his e-mail, McDonald addressed Mi­ Patrick Lloyd Hatcher (left) conducted an interview with Robert Scalapino (right) a was not given a chance to respond to sev­ other janitors at top universities and col­ randa's statement that, the contract offer is Robson Research Professor of Government and Paul M. Carroll (not pictured). eral of the comments and points made by leges, this is significantly more. By com­ unfair. He wrote, "The University's position Miranda, while she was given the floor to parison, the highest paid janitors at St. is clear: When you pay a group of workers PATRICK HAUGHEY was a pipsqueak of a nuclear explosion," counter his points throughout the meeting. Mary's make $12.38 with the janitors at one of the highest salaries in the state, of­ StaffWriter he said, adding that a fizzle should In his e-mail, McDonald explained the Berkeley earning $13.00 and Stanford fer some of the best pensions around, pay be four to five kilotons, while North University's position on several ofthe points making $11.48 per hour as a top wage. 100% ofhealth benefits, and offer excellent n July 4, 2005, Paul Carroll Korea's test achieved less than one. Miranda made on behalf of the union. To argue this, Miranda stated that awoke in a sparse North Ko­ Hewarnedthathesees another nuclear During the meeting, Miranda called these other janitorial workers have not ABLE Continued on Page 2 Orean hotel room to what he test "not too far in the offing," but he also called "fireworks of a different kind." said several more tests were not likely be­ North Korea, ignpring pleas from cause ofthe limited amount of materials. the international community, was fir­ "No one can know why, [they con­ ing missiles over the Sea of Japan. ducted the nuclear test] but we can Carroll and Robert Scalapino were speculate," said Scalapino. He proposed two of only three Americans who were several explanations ranging from "a in North Korea during the missile tests. genuine fear of the U.S.," noting that They spoke about their experience and President George W Bush has listed about the international North Korea North Korea as part of the "Axis of crisis at a forum Wednesday, Nov. 8 Evil,"to a lack of attention from the U.S. at USF, sponsored in part by the USF "They felt neglected, that we have spent Center for the Pacific Rim and the so much time on the Middle East." Car­ Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning. roll suggested it was North Korea's way Carroll represented the Plough­ of saying "see, we're on the same level as shares Fund of San Francisco, an or­ you now... and stay tuned for updates." ganization that advocates nuclear dis­ Some have suggested that this nuclear armament. Scalapino is a Professor of standoff could have been resolved during Government at U.C. Berkeley. They the Clinton years by a tactical military were part of an unofficial envoy in­ strike. Scalapinowasadamantthat"itwas vited to tour Pyongyang and talk with wise not to do this. It would have deep­ North Korean diplomatic officials. ly troubled the South Korean people. It Touring the sights of Pyongyang would have deeply troubled China," said under the close supervision of what Scalapino. He suggested that economic they called their "host/handlers," the sanctions were the best way forward. two were shown monuments and of­ Carroll added that, with the South ficial buildings, but, as Scalapino said, Korean capital Seoul just ten miles from "of course, you were not taken to places the border with the North, "convention-' where there were starving people." At al wisdom is that the North Koreans one point, they asked to ride a subway, would have launched a counter attack to which their host/handlers complied, and reduced Seoul to ashes the next day." but only after completely clearing a car. Carroll said that the often abrasive Asked if he felt afraid being in the foreign policy ofthe Bush administration country during the tense time, Carroll was not the right approach to quell the said it was "in a way, the safest place to be." crisis. "The tighter you put the screws to The tests evoked a deluge of in­ the North.the more intransigent they get." ternational condemnation. Presi­ Scalapino pointed out that this CHLOE DICKSON/FOGHORN dent George W. Bush called them a policy has changed in recent years. "The Bush administration came in Gary McDonald, University Spokesman and Director of Media Relations addressed USF's stance .on the Able contract dispute between provocative act. Seven missiles were with a hard line on North Korea. Able Co. and Able janitors represented by union SEIU Local 87 on Tuesday Nov. 7. fired in all, one of which is estimated to have had the capability of reaching Since the costs of Iraq, we'll talk." the West coast of the United States. One hang up in negotiations, Scala­ Local Poets Read in Commemoration of AIDS Pandemic Since the 2005 tests, tensions between pino said, is that each side wants the the world community and North Korea other to fulfill their part of any bargain have mounted further. Just over a month first. "There is no consensus in either MARIA DINZEO etry as "heartbreaking and ecstatic." Powell, English professor at USF, read ago, on Oct. 9, Pyongyang announced party on how to handle this problem." Assistant News Editor For Shurin, writing about AIDS re­ from their respective works on AIDS last But it is much too sensitive of a situ­ quired more than just lyricism. "It's that it had, for the first time, tested a Monday at the Lone Mountain studio the­ nuclear bomb - again drawing harsh ation to resolve overnight, said both or Aaron Shurin, writing about AIDS that brought me to the lyric es­ ater as part of USF's commemoration of 25 criticism from the international com­ speakers. Scalapino said that change AIDS as an HIV negative . man say in Unboundbeczvtse there was so years of AIDS in San Francisco. Among munity and resulting in U.N. Sanctions. in North Korea is important, but that was. not an easy process, mostly due much information and narrative that it F Shurin's works are Involuntary Lyrics and The sanctions established an embargo it had to happen gradually "Not re­ to the fact that he didn't think he pos­ couldn't be lyrically addressed. It had Unbound* book of lyric essays dealing with on military and technological materials gime change over night, but an evo­ sessed the authority to write about such to be addressed in prose," said Shurin. AIDS, from which Shurin read a work en­ as well as the freezing of financial assets, lution, something like what is hap­ a subject.