On January 16, RPI management distributed a “Special Campus News Bulletin” announcing the postponement of an election by RPI service workers to vote on forming a union. This mass e-mailing quickly dismissed any concerns of organizers about unfair labor practices and then proceeded to rant against the ongoing organizing efforts of employees. Here is one sample quote: “We believe the union has violated the employees right to privacy and has placed its own goals above those of the employees it is seeking to represent. Rensselaer employees deserve better.” 

Unfortunately, this simplistic management propaganda merely obscures the issues at stake rather than clarifying them. First, “the union” in question is not some outside organization stirring up trouble; the union is made up of service workers here at RPI struggling to organize for real wages and benefits. These workers draw upon the expertise of the group they are affiliating with, the Service Employees International Union, but the workers are the union.

Second, these employees are exercising their right under federal law to form a collective bargaining unit. If RPI management really agrees that “employees deserve better,” then they should voluntarily recognize the union rather than interfering with workers right to organize.

Personally, I find management’s spamming practices and paternalistic inflections far more invasive and disturbing than employees trying to achieve a better life.

Torin Monahan