FACULTY UNION TURNS OUT TO SUPPORT STAFF UNION

On Saturday, September 26, members of the UFCT 1460 (Pratt's faculty) turned out to support a rally held by Local 153, Pratt Institute, academic and administrative support staff from across the Institute. The rally was held during an Institute event entitled "The Good Life." Members of Local 153 oversee the wood, metal, jewelry, ceramics, and printmaking shops; the photo, film, and math/science labs; and manage offices throughout the Institute (admissions, architecture, the associate degree program, athletics, bursar, career service, and so on).

The Institute would literally cease to function without the dedication of the people who fill these positions. From the flyer distributed at the rally: "Our members have always supported Pratt's educational goals with the students always and foremost in mind: In the 1990's, Pratt was in crisis, our union sacrificed with pay freezes and gave up benefits. After a decade and a 25% loss in real wages, we finally made some headway in our last contract. The current economic crisis has hit our members hard with increased costs in food, housing, transportation, and utilities. Pratt's enrollment continues to grow and tuition continues to rise, yet Pratt refuses to bargain in good faith with our union. We are asking for your support in our fight for a living wage."