Spring '05 Referenda
Question 16: Union Renovations
Vote: NO
This referendum would give the university permission to pursue
renovations of both the Memorial Union and Union South. FUSE is
dedicated to responsible allocation of student segregated fees.
The proposed referendum would increase segregated fess by over $120 in
the coming years. In our current economic crises where we are
continually fighting for lower tuition and increased financial aid in
order to keep our university accessible to diverse groups of students,
we feel that this would not be a responsible use of segregated fess.
Additionally, FUSE is proud to support AFSCME local 171- a union that represents about 1,500 campus workers in the Blue Collar, Technical, and Security bargaining units - in their struggle against the Wisconsin Union. Local 171 is using this issue as a tool to highlight the abuse of Limited Term Employees (LTEs) by the Wisconsin Union. FUSE will not be supportive of a building project that exploits workers and community members.
Last year the Wisconsin Unions hired over 150 LTE’s and only 25
union-represented classified employees. The LTE’s earn as little as
$7.25 an hour, with no benefits and no union representation. Local 171
members make at least $9.69 an hour, receive full benefits, and enjoy
the protections of a union. Campus-wide, we find that people of color
are three times as likely to be LTE’s and women to be twice as likely.
-excerpt from Vote “No” on Union South hotel referendum
by Mark Thomas,
Madison Observer, 3/30-4/11
Question 17: United Council
Vote: YES
This referendum would renew UW-Madison's membership in the state student
association United Council of Wisconsin Students (UC). Over the
past few years UC has won a number of important student victories.
They were successful in adding gender identity to the UW System
non-discrimination policy, including rewards and penalties as a part of
phase two of Plan 2008-the UW system's diversity plan, and have been
continually fighting to keep tuition affordable.
FUSE is supportive of this referendum to renew our membership in the organization and is dedicated to helping build and shape the organization to make it better.
For more information about this referendum view the staff editorial ‘Yes’ vote for United Council initiative ensures student representation, Madison Observer, 3/30-4/11
April 21, 2005