🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <4bcv1j$jln@nntp.ucs.ubc.ca>, Michael Kyba <kyba@bcu.ubc.ca> wrote:
 
> CUPE 116, worried that actually giving students the possibility
> of buying some food fit for human consumption from someone
> with good personal hygene and a friendly smile to boot might
> take business away from their own stagnant unionized cafeterias,
> launched a grievance.
> 
> The university I am told, not wanting to have to take this case go
> to binding arbitration that might result in weakening their hand
> re. outside workers, caved in.
> 
> Where do students and UBC denziens in general stand?  First they
> took away our choice between Pepsi and Coke.  Then, the prices
> of soft drinks from the machines went up ten cents all over campus.

If the guy was truly an entrepreneur "standing out there in the rain"
etc., then why was it that all I ever saw was his employees?  You fail to
consider some of the problems encountered by allowing him to be there. 
First, he paid minimum wage to some girl who worked the cart most of the
time for him... no benefits, no nothing.  meanwhile, the university is
forced to honor a collective agreement between the people who earn their
living by serving the food in the legitimate outlets on campus.  I just
know that if the Tubesteak operation was to be forced to play on an "even
playing field", you'd have no problem supporting his operation by paying
more for the service, the product and " some food fit for human
consumption from someone with good personal hygene and a friendly smile to
boot", right?  And also that he pay his fair share of the expenses in the
general operation of the university services.  After all, the guy who
appears at "gravy time" should also contribute towards the cost of
financing the less profitable hours for the benefit of those who need to
eat outside of peak hours, right?

> Doesn't anybody seem to care about the Evils of Monopolies?
> Union monopolies, Coke monopolies, they all accomplish the same
> thing: less choice, higher prices, poorer service.

Sure!  And if Mr. Tubesteak will make an equivalent "donation" to the
university  as did Coke, I'm sure there won't be any problem having Mr.
Tubesteak appointed the "official" hot dog at UBC either.

> What about the imorality of this whole sordid affair?  Judging
> by the success of his operation, the Mr. Tubesteak guy was providing
> a service that people really valued.  While it's to be expected from
> CUPE 116, it's astounding to me to see the administration punishing
> excellence through hard work and initiative, while rewarding sloth,
> laziness, and back room dealing.
> 
> Why is it that Special Interest Groups seem to run everything on
> this campus?  Doesn't anybody realize that there are students out
> here?  This shocking lack of respect for student choice really
> should be addressed.

Absolutely right.  I think that we should make more choices available, and
have the students pay the price for that.  I think that my special
interest group (The Committee To Have Students Pay Full Value For
Education) should be heard too.

Your own student organization authorized the Coke deal, and the fact that
the workers organized to form a union to improve their conditions seems to
have eluded you.  If you look down the road of your own past history,
you'll likely find that at some point, the sacrifices and collective
bargaining by some union, somewhere is responsible in some small part for
your even being there.

> Let's keep this guy on our campus.

Absolutely.  And ensure that he gets no "free ride" at the expense of
those who legitimately pay the price to hawk their wares at UBC.  Let's
make sure that this guy pays his staff fairly, provides the same benefits
and security that the university does, and pays for the right (like Coke
did) to even show his face out there.  And when he's truly in a
competitive mode, let's welcome him with open arms.  Are we willing to
shell out $6.00 for that hot dog?

George

=====================================================================
George Johansen - johansen@portal.ca  or  repressed@eworld.com

The opinions expressed here are not necessarily the official 
platform or policy of any political party or company.
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