Will AERA Cross a Union Picket Line?
We are pleased to share the following letter regarding the 2009 AERA Annual Meeting with the JCT Online Community. Two of our keynotes from the 2008 Conference have signed onto the letter.
October 20, 2008
Dear Colleagues in AERA:
We appreciate that, on October 17th, AERA president McDonnell and executive director Levine sent an e-mail (copied below) to all AERA members describing a problem with the main conference site hotel for the 2009 annual meeting. However, we are concerned that the letter tells only a part of the story. In this brief response, we provide more background, and we urge members not to allow AERA to cross a picket line.
(1) THE PROBLEM(S)? There are at least two problems. One is the problem described in the McDonnell/Levine letter about the actions of Hyatt owner Manchester in support of California Proposition 8. But a second and longer-term problem exists that was not described about the labor conditions at the hotel, particularly regarding workload and job security (www.unitehere.org). On July 10th, the labor union UNITE HERE, together with the San Diego Central Labor Council, called for a full boycott of this hotel. Picket lines and other actions regularly occur at the hotel, which means that if AERA does not relocate its conference, many sessions will be empty unless members cross union picket lines.
(2) THE COSTS? AERA might face high cancellations fees, but might not. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Hyatt made arrangements to waive cancellations fees for the American Association of Law Schools conference, scheduled for January 2009, which kept its contract for guest rooms but relocated the conference to another hotel (www.signonsandiego.com). Even if AERA loses money, it will be making an important public statement about the role our association can play in advocating justice for laborers, for LGBT people, and for others experiencing discrimination.
(3) THE SOLUTION? The McDonnell/Levine letter outlines several important next steps, including public statements, high-profile conference sessions on this issue, and working collaboratively with constituents on future changes to association policy and conference planning. Other important steps should include relocating the conference entirely to other venues. We urge the AERA council, committees, and staff to take such steps at their upcoming meetings later this week in DC.
(4) For more information on the boycott, feel free to contact Powell DeGange, Boycott Organizer, UNITE HERE local 30, 510-410-5154, pdegange@unitehere.org.
Sincerely,
Kevin Kumashiro, University of Illinois-Chicago
Gary L. Anderson, New York University
Jean Anyon, Graduate Center of the City University of New York
William Ayers, University of Illinois-Chicago
Lee Anne Bell, Barnard College
Jacqueline Jordan Irvine, Emory University
Patti Lather, The Ohio State University
Sonia Nieto, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
William Schubert, University of Illinois-Chicago