By Alexis Ali
Intense action movie narrator voice: In a world where up is down, right is left, good is bad, and bad gets promoted, there’s a team at the ready to defend us—and our contract. The grievance team, made up of 12 stewards and a grievance officer, has grown exponentially over the past year and has taken on the heavy burden of representing our members in untenable workplace situations. From dealing with pushback to our contractually guaranteed flexible workplace accommodations to bullying and harassment complaints, to investigations with the state labor board, these stewards are incredible humans and allies. After finally winning our new contract, the grievance team works to uphold it and challenge any violations made by the university.
But who are they? This series, of which this is the first installment, will help us get to know them a little bit better and learn both how to protect ourselves and what we need protecting from. Below, you’ll be introduced to a couple of stewards and their fearless and feisty leader, Laura Jane Hunter.
Name and pronouns: Alysha Coy Desharnais, she/her
Why did you decide to become a steward : While being on the bargaining team, I got to live in the reality that bargaining is only one part of having a contract—defending it is the other. Defending the contract is a daily responsibility that all of us have as employees, supervisors, and coworkers, but we don’t have to do that alone. I wanted to be a steward so I could stand with members, so they aren’t alone when attacks on our rights as PSU members happen.
Is a hot dog a sandwich: I agree with Judge John Hodgeman (great podcast) on this one. No, a hot dog is a hot dog: It is not a sandwich. Calling it a sandwich ignores the history and cultures that have all come together to produce what we call a hot dog. I also love debating over what we call food, as showcased in a case heard by Judge John Hodgeman, Episode 458, starting at 01:01:35.
Name and pronouns: David Browne, he/him
Why I decided to become a steward: I’ve seen in big and small ways at UMass that the PSU contract is only as strong as our ability to enforce it.
Is a hot dog a sandwich: The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council has an official stance that a hot dog has “evolved to become an entirely new entity” and that calling it just a sandwich “limits its significance.” As a relative novice in the areas of the cultural and historical significance of hot dogs, I defer to their expertise.
Name and pronouns: Laura Jane Hunter, she/her (Laura Jane is my first name, officially)
Why did you decide to become a steward: I became a steward when (PSU secretary) Jennifer Shaio suggested I should do it, and then, soon after, she suggested I run for the Grievance Officer position.
At first, I was very trepidatious—I really did not have the confidence that I would have the skills or knowledge to take it on. Six months later, I could not be more grateful for the opportunity.
It’s been a tough learning experience—I believe in public education, I believe in UMass, and yet I have seen first hand how abusive management can be and how they can let terrible supervisors create hostile working environments. The stewards I have gotten to know through this process are inspirational and aspirational, and the work is so meaningful. As my husband likes to tell everyone, I am happiest when I am writing angry letters. And I get to write a lot of angry letters.
Is a hot dog a sandwich: A hot dog is by definition a sandwich: handheld, wrapped in bread—but that doesn’t mean it counts as food.
Curious about what rights our new contract outlines? Check them out here.
