[Oral History Program interview with Robert E. Ginsburg, 1977]

Interview #43: Ginsburg, Robert E.

UW-Madison TEI edition, February, 2010

Source:

Ginsburg, Robert E. (1952- )
[Oral History Program interview with Robert E. Ginsburg, 1977]
number 43
(Teaching assistants strike of 1970)
University of Wisconsin, 1977

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URL to cite for this work: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/UWOHP.OH43

[Title Page]

[abstract]

Interview with Robert E. Ginsburg

00:00:00–00:07:35 Background. Reasons for coming to UW...

00:07:35–00:10:01 Came here in 1973. Was invited to join...

00:10:01–00:12:02 Ron Walker, Phyllis Karrh, Goodwin...

00:12:02–00:13:48 Attitudes to being president of TAA--no...

00:13:48–00:17:42 Why RG got involved in stewards' meetings...

00:17:42–00:23:49 1973 leadership's view of role of TAA...

00:23:49–00:28:24 Why TAA had not affiliated earlier...

00:28:24–00:30:19 First convention--TAA went to of WFT...

00:30:19–00:36:06 Continues description of first WFT...

00:36:06–00:37:22 Bargaining was underway in spring....

00:37:22–00:40:32 Leaders that year very militant bargainers...

00:40:32–00:45:35 Strike vote was about 50%....

00:45:35–00:49:30 Discussion continued at next steward's...

00:49:30–00:52:55 Discussion of position of members who...

00:52:55–00:55:31 Continued discussion of decision-making...

00:55:31–01:01:05 Work done in 1974-75....

01:01:05–01:02:38 Question about faculty at bargaining...

00:00:00–00:00:52 TAA maintained that faculty wasn't...

00:00:52–00:02:14 What happened to old leadership....

00:02:14–00:03:26 1974 strike vote fit in with UW view that...

00:03:26–00:05:16 Purpose contract serves for UW....

00:05:16–00:10:14 In 1975 UW began going after individual...

00:10:14–00:11:13 Membership meetings still small this year...

00:11:13–00:17:53 Chemistry department....

00:17:53–00:22:36 Educational planning clause was unenforceable...

00:22:36–00:24:38 One/third, one/third, one/third proposal...

00:24:38–00:29:36 Election of officers, spring of 1975...

00:29:36–00:33:19 Math group ceased being active, disgruntled...

00:33:19–00:35:17 More on 1975 spring election....

00:35:17–00:37:28 Henry Haslach returned in summer and...

00:37:28–00:40:01 Bargaining team included RG, Matt Brinner...

00:40:01–00:42:17 Sociology department's handling of TA...

00:42:17–00:46:30 TAA offer for a settlement not accepted...

00:46:30–00:50:02 Possible effect of pamphlet, "Shut it...

00:50:02–00:53:39 Psychology department TAs objected to...

00:53:39–00:57:58 David Newby became involved with labor...

00:57:58–01:00:52 Changed method of organizing for strike...

01:00:52–01:02:04 If UW had offered TAA's agreement re...

00:00:00–00:05:10 Discusses reasons first strike vote failed...

00:05:10–00:06:39 Elation when strike vote passed....

00:06:39–00:08:39 David Newby asking for help from other...

00:08:39–00:12:27 At last minute, UW offered TAA's class...

00:12:27–00:15:54 Work stoppage an outstanding success...

00:15:54–00:19:27 UW told departments what to do....

00:19:27–00:22:29 Roger Dribble's articles in State Journal...

00:22:29–00:24:26 Conservative members of TAA began coming...

00:24:26–00:28:14 April 11th. Bargaining was supposed to...

00:28:14–00:30:11 An aside on where strike hurt UW...

00:30:11–00:33:34 Fenske, Cronon, Doremus took a very hard...

00:33:34–00:37:35 Strike vote just about an even split...

00:37:35–00:39:27 1976 elections. RG hadn't wanted to run...

00:39:27–00:43:44 Activities in this year during RG's...

00:43:44–00:44:46 Contract a significant improvement over...

00:44:46–00:49:02 Is membership problem due to competition...

00:49:02–00:51:16 RG comments on his own work....

00:51:16–00:54:08 Role of women in TAA....

00:00:00–00:05:06 Discusses current bargaining....

00:05:06–00:10:52 Legislature may pass legislation requiring...

00:10:52–00:12:44 Educational issues. Not many in union...

00:12:44–00:17:37 Henry Haslach, who didn't like to push...

00:17:37–00:18:10 Among leadership, only RG and David Newby...

00:18:10–00:20:38 Decision to drop 1/3rd, 1/3rd, 1/3rd...

00:20:38–00:22:31 Experimental courses provision last spring...

00:22:31–00:23:45 Faculty on UW campus are paranoid....

00:23:45–00:26:31 Other major area: affirmative action...

00:26:31–00:29:31 Structure agreement says TAA can bargain...

00:29:31–00:31:14 Process of forming contract proposals...

00:31:14–00:33:56 About 20 people, insiders, work issues...

00:33:56–00:36:08 No one opposes inclusion of anyone's...

00:36:08–00:38:13 Written proposals were taken to membership...

00:38:13–00:38:56 Fight over issues takes serious shape at...

00:38:56–00:39:33 Bargaining this year is at either of Unions.

00:39:33–00:43:32 First encounter with Carlson....

00:43:32–00:45:26 Faculty on bargaining team: Isadore Fine...

00:45:26–00:48:19 Discusses strategy. Name calling unlikely...

00:48:19–00:49:27 Bargainers were Bob Holub, RG, Gretchen...

00:49:27–00:53:07 Relationships with faculty--differences...

00:53:07–00:54:46 Expects bargaining to go on all summer...

00:00:00–00:02:56 Teaching seminars planned by TAA for last...

00:02:56–00:03:50 Main purpose of seminars--to be active...

00:03:50–00:05:43 They will continue if people keep doing...

00:05:43–00:07:14 Dues are $4.99 a month now, taken out of...

00:07:14–00:10:54 Rent for office in Y is $110....

00:10:54–00:26:50 RG describes experience as TA and TAA...

00:26:50–00:27:59 Many women in freshman chemistry--many...

00:27:59–00:29:17 RG hopes to graduate in six to nine months...

00:29:17–00:31:13 Has contemplated going into IES, but hard...

00:31:13–00:35:46 (Had run off tape and trying to recapitulate...

00:35:46–00:39:32 Views of relation between University and...

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