From: UGSDW <ugsdw.org@gmail.com>
Date: January 1, 2019 at 2:20:05 PM CST
To: kington@grinnell.edu
Subject: A Meeting
Dear Dr. Kington:
On December 20, the Regional Director of the NLRB approved the withdrawal of our petition. The next day, the Office of the Executive Secretary of the NLRB informed both parties that the college’s request for review was moot and would not be ruled on. The legal aspect of this issue is now over, but two things have not changed: student workers’ democratic will to engage in collective bargaining through UGSDW, and the college’s concerns about such broad collective representation.
On December 14, in a phone call with one of our board’s advisors, Cory McCartan, you indicated your openness to meeting and discussing these concerns once the legal proceedings were concluded. I am writing to ask you to make good on that promise and to meet with me and other representatives of UGSDW. The events of the past semester have demonstrated that there are strong opinions on both sides of this debate. This issue will not simply disappear after the forced withdrawal of the NLRB petition. It must instead be resolved through discussion and compromise.
I understand that your sabbatical ends on January 22, 2019. We hope to meet with you as soon as possible upon your return.
I wish you well in 2019 and eagerly await your reply.
Very truly yours,
Quinn Ercolani