Some 1,200 professional support staff of the University of Arkansas had lunch May 17 on the Staff Senate at its 2023 Staff Appreciation Picnic, according to counts by the senate and Chartwells food service, which hosted the meal.
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A number of those picnickers stopped for brochures and conversation at the information booth of UA-Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965. They met local leaders as well as officials of the Arkansas Education Association, held this year at the 1021 Food Hall (formerly Brough Commons).
Our volunteers to greet UA employees included, from Local 965, President Hershel Hartford, Past President Bret Schulte, and Secretary Kasey Walker; and from AEA, President Carol Fleming, interim AEA Executive Director Liz Piccone, Aspiring Ed and ESP organizer Kelly Givens, and UniServ Liaison Renee Johnson.
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Among other highlights of the event, immediate Past President Bret Schulte presented President Hershel Hartford with Local 965’s charter from the mid-1960s. A 42-second video is available to view on Facebook.
Local 965 President Hershel Hartford displays the 1966 charter of what first was the Arkansas Public Employees Local Union 965 after Past President Bret Schulte presented it to him at the 2023 University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic, May 17 at the 1021 Food Hall.
President Hershel Hartford threw a party for Local 965 members and friends, and many dropped by for conversation, hamburgers, hot dogs, cold drinks and sides. It was UA-Fayetteville Education Association’s first-in-a-loooooong-while May Day / Workers Day picnic. We met at Fayetteville’s Veterans Memorial Park.
While chatting was generally casual, Hershel formally welcomed the diners and explained the intent, that in-person dialogue is more effective and more fun than the panedemic era’s email, text and video-chat. He noted that plans are to host a similar cook-out in the fall, on Labor Day naturally, as well as continuing well into the future.
Local 965 President Hershel Hartford discusses the University of Arkansas’s need for a strong labor union during the Local 965 Workers Day 2023 picnic May 1 in Fayetteville. Photo by Denise Firmin GarnerLocal 965 President Hershel Hartford (from left) listens as state Rep Denise Garner snaps a photo and her husband, Dr. Hershey Garner looks on as Vice President Ben Pollock hawks memberships at the Local 965 Workers Day 2023 picnic May 1. Photo by Bret Schulte
Also speaking was a longtime supporter state Rep. Denise Firmin Garner, D-Dist. 84. Her husband, Hershey Garner, M.D., later completed our membership application.
Denise is known for being a shutterbug at events such as ours, and we are proud to showcase her skills here. We are grateful.
A few dozen workers of all ages listened to eight regional union organizers at the Northwest Arkansas Labor Spring Teach-In April 8, gaining knowledge and enthusiasm from their fellows.
The program in the Ziegler Reception Room of the Fayetteville Public Library began with perhaps the newest labor movement, that of Starbucks Coffee employees. Dylan Hartsfield began organizing employees of the cafe on Wedington Drive in February 2022. Since its success and that of a Starbucks on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Dylan has become an organizer with the overall Starbucks Workers United, a division of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
Walter Hinojosa, president of the Northwest Arkansas Labor Council, emceed while Hershel Hartford, president of UA-Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965, introduced the program. These two groups sponsored the teach-in.
Magaly Licolli, executive director and co-founder of the poultry worker organization Venceremos, speaks at the April 8, 2023, NWA Labor Spring Teach-In at the Fayetteville Public Library.Pete Reagan, the 14th District field service rep for the International Association of Fire Fighters, speaks at the April 8, 2023, NWA Labor Spring Teach-In at the Fayetteville Public Library.Rick Halford, regional political director of Southern States Millwright Regional Council, speaks at the April 8, 2023, NWA Labor Spring Teach-In at the Fayetteville Public Library.Jessica Akers, president of the Arkansas AFL-CIO, speaks at the April 8, 2023, NWA Labor Spring Teach-In at the Fayetteville Public Library.
Magaly Licolli, executive director and co-founder of the regional poultry worker organization Venceremos said her group is chiefly concerned with a “search for solutions” on worker safety matters. As far as chicken growing and processing, any sort of safety net set up by government is full of tangles and tears, where she cited chemical emissions and denial especially of the dangers of Covid especially in the pandemic’s early months.
Annie B. Smith, professor, University of Arkansas School of Law, outlined the basics of federal law on unions as well as the limits state laws sets, both positive and negative. Worker’s compensation law, for example covers an employee injured due to their own miscalculation, but “Workers generally do not have a right to breaks” (they’re just a common perk).
Dylan Hartsfield, an organizer with Workers United Starbucks who began with the coffee shops in Northwest Arkansas, speaks at the April 8, 2023, NWA Labor Spring Teach-In at the Fayetteville Public Library.Annie B. Smith, a professor at the University of Arkansas School of Law, speaks at the April 8, 2023, NWA Labor Spring Teach-In at the Fayetteville Public Library.
Pete Reagan, district field service representative for the 14th District (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee), International Association of Fire Fighters , gave a brief history of the Fayetteville local that began in the late 1970s. Its latest concern is the incorporation of PFAs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in their gear to repel oil and water and prevent mold but is a carcinogen. “Our own gear is killing us.”
Rick Halford, regional political director of Southern States Millwright Regional Council discussed the close relationship between child labor and human trafficking in light of the Arkansas legislature with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ signature revoked state law pertaining to children working, though federal laws remain in effect.
Closing out the program was Jessica Akers Hughes, president, Arkansas AFL-CIO. She sees the governments of a number of states trying to divide workers, a common tactic that in recent years uses gender, sexuality, race. “If we didn’t have power, they wouldn’t be trying to silence us,” she said.
The inaugural Northwest Arkansas Labor Spring Teach-In was held April 8, 2023, at the Fayetteville Public Library.
Local 965 responded to dozens of queries Aug. 24 at the 2022 Razorbash outside Arkansas Union on Aug. 24, visiting with students, staff and faculty members and a couple of parents of students.
Visitors to the booth picked up information about UA-Fayetteville Education Association/Local 965, a chapter of the Arkansas Education Association, a division of the National Education Association, as well as logo pens, highlighters and other reading material, including a flyer for the Local’s Sept. 6 public panel discussion “The Fight for the Future of Reproductive Health at the University of Arkansas.”
Its table was run by 965 officers as well as AEA President Carol Fleming and AEA UniServ Director Renee Johnson.
Interim University of Arkansas Chancellor Charles F. Robinson stopped at the table of Local 965 Aug. 24 during the 2022 Razorbash community fair on the Fayetteville campus. 965 Vice President Mike Pierce, left photo, talks with his fellow history professor. 965 Secretary Ben Pollock meets him, center. Arkansas Education Association Carol B. Fleming poses with him. Left and middle photos by Fleming, right by Renee Johnson.
The annual Razorbash fair web page states it “features booths from local businesses, community groups and non-profit organizations, that will provide free food, giveaways, and information. Razorbash 2022 offers students an opportunity to connect with the local community.”
Sudden Showers Slowed Neither the Pace nor the Enthusiasm
The labor organization of the University of Arkansas again participated in the area’s Pride events, the 2nd annual Trans March and 18th annual Pride Parade, June 18, 2022. The crowd easily numbered in the thousands.
The day’s small chance for rain turned to 100 percent 45 minutes before the Parade’s 5 p.m. start. The steady shower slowed for most of the event — flowing west along the whole commercial section of Dickson Street — then drenched onlookers and participants as the rally ended at the foot of the campus.
As the 2022 Fayetteville Pride Parade ends June 18, thousands of bystanders flow onto Dickson Street from its sidewalks. Photo by Mike Pierce
The red-shirted Mike Pierce (from left), Ben Pollock, a friend of the union and at-large board member Chad Kieffer (right) walked for the union to support transgender rights, the community and their supporters in the state’s first Trans March on June 24, 2021. and Chad Kieffer then Trish Starks (black T-shirt) head down Dickson Street in Fayetteville’s 18th annual Pride Parade. Photo by Christy Pollock
The red-shirted Mike Pierce (left) and Ben Pollock carry the Local 965 banner (not seen) down Dickson Street in Fayetteville’s 18th annual Pride Parade. Photo by Megan Lewis-Reed
The PRIDE registered student organization hosted several UA groups including UA-Fayetteville Education Association/Local 965, marching as one unit among other entities, proficiently overseen by Northwest Arkansas Equality with assistance by the city of Fayetteville and law enforcement.
Holding the 965 banner were the local’s vice president, Mike Pierce, and secretary, Ben Pollock, joined by board member Chad Kieffer as well as member Trish Starks.
Kieffer and Gliszinksi represented Local 965 for the noon Trans March, the second annual.
While individual members of UA-Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965 have participated individually in years past, the union participated as an entity in 2021 and now. The event is organized where various University of Arkansas groups participate as its own unit, organized by the registered student organization UARK PRIDE, celebrating its 40th anniversary. The daylong Pride Festival including the march and parade were proficiently overseen by Northwest Arkansas Equality with assistance by the city of Fayetteville and law enforcement.
UA-Fayetteville Education Association 