The Student Labor Action Coalition met Wednesday with Wisconsin Union administrators to discuss what they said they felt was the ongoing abuse of limited term employees at both the Memorial Union and Union South.
\LTEs are seen as cost-saving mechanisms,"" said Tony Schulz, a member of SLAC.
Concern was expressed for the number of LTEs that have worked at the Union for months or even years. These employees do not receive the full Union benefit packages, which Schultz estimates to be worth around $4 an hour, have no union protection and receive no poverty wages.
SLAC members questioned why these workers were not classified as full-time employees even though there is a constant need for their work.
SLAC members also claimed that some LTEs have been fired or had their hours reduced to zero because of their standing as long-term LTEs.
Schultz focused on the positions of custodial workers and kitchen employees and claimed these positions had constant need and therefore should be filled by full-time employees.
""[The] whole basis is permanent positions for permanent work,"" Schultz said. ""LTE is an unfair classification.""
SLAC members proposed that after an LTE works for six months they become a permanent employee and receive benefit packages.
However, Wisconsin Union Director Mark Guthier did not acknowledge having long-term LTEs as a problem, but instead as only a ""situation.""
""We have granted authority to use [LTEs] from the state,"" Guthier said.
Ken Gibson, the associate director of the Union, supported this.
""[We will] always have LTEs, because of the nature of work [at the Union],"" Gibson said.
Union representatives contested claims that many LTEs are hired for seasonal work when the Union's terrace is open and crowds are larger.
Gibson said the Union has looked to hire LTEs full-time but the response by LTEs has been low. When seeking a full-time custodial worker, Gibson said the Union sent out 12 applications to LTEs, but only five LTEs came forward for the position. When seeking a full-time kitchen staff member, 20 applications were sent to LTEs and only two individuals showed interest.
""[The Union] has difficulty hiring the LTEs,"" Gibson said.
Employees expressed bewilderment at these statements, saying that many LTEs do not know how to go about finding full-time employment at the Union.
Union representatives also claimed that many jobs currently filled by LTEs are not full-time.
Guthier said Union officials will meet later this month to further address the status of LTEs working at the Union.
