Bears to face a youthful challenge
Janitors agree to USC contract
Workers settle with ServiceMaster for better wages, benefits, security
By Jennifer Kelleher
Staff Writer
After two years of fighting to ensure job security, janitors at the University Park and Health Sciences campuses now have a contract with cleaning company ServiceMaster.
The contract secures wage increases, full family health care benefits, job security and seniority protection, said Eddie Iny, research analyst and organizer
for Service Employees International Union, Local 1877.
The janitors used to work directly for USC, but were subcontracted to ServiceMaster in March 1996, said Henry Lacher, the director of custodial services; They organized a campaign with Local 1877 about a year after their jobs were subcontracted, after temporarily working with Union Local 399.
"The union and (other) workers tried to get the decision over-
turned," Iny said. "USC tried to cut costs on the backs of the low-est-paid workers at the university; the workers fought back and won."
"USC decided to subcontract for reasons of quality and cost," Lacher said. "We are happy to have this chapter behind us so that we can pursue the objectives we were brought here to achieve."
A bargaining committee of 15 union members overwhelmingly approved the agreement with ServiceMaster this week.
"The contract represents an agreement between tne union and ServiceMaster as it pertains to the
employees," said Leticia Salcedo, Local 1877 lead organizer.
"We are happy to say that the negotiating teams Irom the union ana ServiceMaster have reached final agreement on all terms of the contract," Lacher said. "We look forward to a good working relationship with the union and its members."
Other rights the contract secures include a grievance procedure that ensures ServiceMaster is not violating the contract as well as the creation of a Labor Management Committee to address worksite problems.
(See Union, page 3)
Gay issues panel, Carl's Jr. founder
Lambda Grads, the gay and lesbian graduate and professional student organization, will be holding a
f)anel discussion on gay and esbian relationships at noon today in Topping Student Center, room 205.
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1 , . .
Carl Karcher, the founder of Carl's jr. Restaurants, will speak at 12:30 p.m. today in Taper Hall of Humanities, room 202. The speech is hosted by the USC College Republicans.
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Yale professor of political science Rogers Smitn is giving a speech entitled "The Challenge of American Liberalism" at 4 p.m. today in the Banquet Room of the Faculty Center.
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Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Sigma Gamma Rho sorority and the Black Women's Caucus are holding a Chili Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today in Fagg Park.
Free food will be served.
No sweat
Jatstca Namakkal / Dally Trojan
Victory Network spokesmen perform extreme strength feats in Hahn Plaza Wednesday.
Residential mural questioned
By Robin Levine
Staff Writer
As part of their general renovations, the residents of Colonial House gathered in October for a night of "self-expression."
With $100 worth of fluorescent paint, plastic tarps and brushes, the Colonial community, or as residents like to call it, Gladville, began transforming the walls of its living ixx>m into a shrine honoring artistic expression. As the house band "The Favorites" jammed in the background, residents and friends of the house each took a comer of the room to paint at their own free will. There were no guidelines or themes.
Luke Metzger, the president of Colonial House, said they hoped the mural would brighten up the house and encourage a greater sense of community among its residents.
"More people are hanging out in the living room since we painted it," Metzger said.
Kseniga Vidulic, a junior majoring in international relations who moved into Colonial last semester, said the mural "has added a new feeling to the house."
During the past several months the mural has slowly expanded, making its way into the front hallway, onto the doors of rooms and now up the stairway. If the residents have their way, the mural will never stop growing and changing.
But the university does not foresee the mural growing and changing, since it did not approve the painting of the mural. The Office of Housing and Residence Halls does not want a mural that has no general theme or timeless quality.
Metzger said the mural, which was a communal effort, has been an idea for the past couple of years." Official planning began in fall 19% with a proposal to the University Residential Student Community that was submitted through their resident advisor.
State
official
speaks
Residents of Colonial House may be forced to paint over their Gladville mural.
"The proposal included a number of different drawings," Metzger said. "However, there was no response."
They tried to obtain approval again last semester
(See Mural, page 2)
By Judy Lin
Staff Wnter
State Controller Kathleen Connell forecasted the state's economic outlook for the next 20 years through changes in the population and its effect on public services on campus Wednesday.
In Controller's Quarterly, a report given for the first time at Davidson Conference Center, Connell stressed the impact of aging baby boomers on tax revenues. As the generation begins to retire within the next decade, she said, much of their savings and pension funds will not be taxable.
Less tax revenue would result in fewer public services, and Connell warned that services such as education would deteriorate, ultimately causing a decline in job training and income among youth.
The report also found that the younger working class is growing increasingly less educated despite forming a smaller population than baby boomers. While 33.4 percent of people ages 45 to 54 hold bachelor's degrees, only 26.7 percent of people ages 25 to 34 do.
The implications behind a less-educated generation mean that the state will need to kxxist education funding for more students to graduate in order to land better jobs that require more technical training.
The findings were presented to about 20 business leaders, public workers and professors concerned with economic trends in California. Victoria Scarbrough, special assistant to the controller, said that there was a low turnout. They usually see 50 to 100 guests attend, and no students attended.
According to the USC's External Relations Office, USC hosted the discussion because a professor at the School of Urban Planning and Development, Dowell Myers, contributed to the report.
The Controller's Office had
(See Controller, page 12)
USC men's basketball Head Coach Henry Bibby is expected to start his three true freshmen when the Trojans host Pacific 10 Conference rival California at 7 p.m. tonight.
Sports, page 20
"Sphere" actors discuss roles
Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Coyote, Liev Schreiber and Queen Latifah discuss their futures beyond the "Sphere," the new film from director Barry Levinson starring Sharon Stone.
Diversions, page 7
Official column of the 1998 Olympiad
Gone are the days where the Olympic Games actually meant athletic excellence and world unity. Now, laments Editorial Columnist Colin D. Smith, the main emphasis is on economics.
Viewpoint, page 4