RA union vote set for March 5

esident assistants and community development assistants will decide whether to unionize in a vote scheduled for March 5.

     The vote was scheduled by the Massachusetts Labor Relations Commissions following its Jan. 18 ruling that undergraduate employees had the legal right to unionize.

     Tuesday night, interim Chancellor Marcellette G. Williams met with RAs to discuss the unionization effort, which is opposed by the administration.

     In a Feb. 14 letter to RAs, Williams urged the students to reject unionization, calling the effort to organize undergraduates "inconsistent" with education and "incompatible" with resident assistants' roles as student leaders and role models.

     Williams said the role of RAs as student leaders "should not be mis-characterized as 'employment' in the traditional sense." She also stated that the University will use all "appropriate legal and administrative steps" to preserve the current role of RAs.

     Because Housing Services is funded by student fees, Williams said higher wages sought by a union would lead to higher student costs.

     Local 2322 of the United Auto Workers, which already represents graduate employees on campus, is leading the union drive. Local 2322 president James Shaw predicted the RAs will opt for a union.

     There are about 360 RAs and CDAs working in the campus residence hall system.