“…A lot of students wondered, ‘why are these groups still on campus?’” — Sarah Canale, UM graduate student and member of Let ’Em Vote

By Ana Maria Trujillo

The student government at the University of Miami has taken its own stand against the disruption caused on their campus by STAND, the Service Employees International Union and other pro-union supporters.

Last Thursday afternoon a special session of the student senate was called with UM student body president Annette Ponnock asking her fellow students affiliated with Students Toward a New Democracy (STAND) to end their hunger strike.

“I can no longer stand by in … silence,” Ponnock said. “I come before you today to end this hunger strike so we can come together as a family.”

In her speech she specifically addressed Tanya Aquino, a member of STAND who was hospitalized last week due to her participation in the hunger strike.

“Tanya has been such a wonderful friend to me,” said Ponnock, “I hope you realize that I am speaking from the bottom of my heart that it hurts me to see you doing this to yourself. Even though some of us disagree with what you are doing, nobody wants to see you hurt.”

SEIU Local 11 has been attempting to unionize Unicco-contracted janitors working at the University of Miami and more recently Nova Southeastern University in Davie. After Unicco insisted that any vote for a union be conducted via secret ballot instead of “card checks,” janitors and STAND members went on hunger strike.

Although the all-out hunger strike has ended, many students are still fasting and signing up to go without food for a few days at a time. Finally joining the fast is Andrew Stern, president of the nationwide SEIU and Eliseo Medina, SEIU’s executive vice president.

“A number of students are fasting and faculty of UM and FIU are fasting. Not hunger-striking. They sign up for two or three days at a time,” said Jacob Coker-Dukowitz, a junior and STAND member. 

“Everyone’s hunger strike has ended but our commitment to the cause hasn’t changed,” said Aquino.

The focus has shifted to the solidarity fast. On Tuesday a ceremony was held to thank the fasters who were done and welcome those who were taking their place.

Many students have formed a group advocating a complete end to the strike. They have passed out more than 500 fliers and buttons that read, “Let ’Em Vote,” which refers to the secret ballot system favored by Unicco. They call it “UM Students for the Right to Work,” and have even started a group on the Facebook Web site, a social directory, that states, “UM students are ready for SEIU to take its tents and signs and leave our campus!”

The Advocates for Conservative Thought funded the purchase of the fliers and the buttons.

“I think a lot of students just assume because the other side is more vocal that most people sympathize with the workers…but a lot of students wondered, ‘why are these groups still on campus?’” said Sarah Canale a graduate student who is active with the Let ’Em Vote campaign.

According to John Constantinide, student speaker for the senate, “Students and administrators and many people who walk by Ashe have been reported to have been brutally harassed.”

Over the past month there has been a series of protests and a few tents remain at the Ashe building. Any students needing to take care of business at the administrative building must have a UM issued ’Cane Card and proof that they have a reason to be there.

“There are students whose academic rights are violated because of SEIU and STAND,” said Constantinide. “[The disruption] is inhibiting the students’ ability to basically do business, do their class work, and do what they’re supposed to do, which is get an education.”

Another problem that has surfaced is an incident of vandalism that took place on April 12. On the backside of the Ashe building “Sí, se puede” (“Yes, it can be done”) was written on the wall.

On the same day, according to the resolution passed by the student government, protesters disrupted UM president Donna Shalala’s class.

Student government passed a resolution on April 19 in response to disruption by SEIU protests and the incident of vandalism at the Bowman Foster Ashe Building, among other things.

“We are beginning the last week of classes and finals and we hope protestors will let students finish the semester without any additional disruption,” said UM spokesperson Margot Winick.

That might not happen. Tuesday another chapter of the strike was launched called Make Work Pay! Sponsored by the Change to Win Coalition, which includes many unions and workers who broke away from the AFL-CIO, the campaign claims it wants to restore the American dream.

“People are losing their faith in the American dream basically because people aren’t getting paid enough money,” said Rob Schuler, president of SEIU Local 11.

The coalition kicked off Change to Win Week with a rally near the main UM entrance. James Hoffa from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Sen. John Edwards and Southern Christian Leadership Conference CEO Charles Steele were all there to speak out in support of the strike.

“We knew that we were going to have a Change to Win Week,” said Schuler. “We agreed that this Unicco campaign at the University of Miami would be most important.”

The university has filed for an injunctive relief with the courts against SEIU.

According to a statement issued by Margot Winick, UM spokesperson, “A state court judge today granted the University of Miami an injunction preventing SEIU and SEIU International and its agents from engaging in any activity on the UM campuses that is disruptive of the normal activities of the university.

“This injunctive relief will allow the university, its students, and faculty, to continue to engage in its normal activities,” said Winick.

Comments? E-mail letters@miamisunpost.com.