One of Oberlin’s last remaining large unions, OCOPE,  is entering a new round of negotiations this summer — and its members say what’s at stake goes far beyond wages and benefits.

The Oberlin College Office and Professional Employees, a unit of Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 792, represents approximately 125 administrative and paraprofessional staff across the College, according to a 2022 article in the Review. These workers perform essential roles at the College — from cataloging books and staffing the library to designing lab experiments and coordinating student records (“OCOPE, College Update Benefits in Renewed Labor Contract,” The Oberlin Review, Sept. 16, 2022).

This summer’s contract negotiations, which happen roughly every three years, will be shaped by rising costs of living and long-standing concerns around workplace equity according to Julie Weir, OCOPE’s first steward and president of the larger OPEIU 792.

“Everybody has experienced the financial pressures of inflation,” Weir noted. “So wages or anything in the area of some economic assistance, … retirement benefits, … any of those benefits are going to be important this year.”

One recurring issue is Oberlin’s winter shutdown policy. OCOPE members are the only group of College employees who must use their own accrued time off to cover the shutdown period, while other employees receive it as paid time off. This discrepancy has remained a consistent point of frustration for the union and is expected to resurface at the bargaining table.

Beyond these issues, OCOPE’s leadership remains concerned about the slow erosion of duties within their unit.

“We have seen loss of some of our higher-level duties from our bargaining unit,” Weir said. “There’s been a big growth in middle management … doing a lot of work that could easily be done by our unit or has been done by our unit in the past.”

Still, Weir said, the current relationship with the administration is “pretty good,” explaining that the College generally makes an effort to reach out when planned changes may affect union members.

The Review was unable to reach anyone from the College Employee Relations for comment.

“They’re pretty good about … making sure that we’re contacted … if that’s the role that we need to be taking,” Weir said. “However, we don’t see eye to eye on everything.”

This year’s negotiations come at a time when organized labor is shrinking on Oberlin’s campus. Over the past decade, unions representing Campus Dining Services and custodial staff were dissolved amid outsourcing and transitions in third party management. OCOPE remains the most prominent labor organization still active.

“We all have the same goal, which is for employees to be treated with dignity, respect, and some amount of equity,” Weir said. “Fair wages are important. Good healthcare is important. Having adequate time off is important … just for a good livelihood.”

In a 2020 Review article commemorating the union’s 50th anniversary, OCOPE was described as “a vocal presence for workers on campus,” and a “reminder of Oberlin’s long tradition of labor organizing,” (“Proud Union Traditions: Celebrating Fifty Years of OCOPE,” The Oberlin Review, Oct. 30, 2020). OCOPE’s negotiations may set the tone for future labor relations at the College. 

Weir acknowledged that the outcome of negotiations could either strengthen or strain the union’s relationship with the College.

“Every contract negotiation, … the easier and more able we are to do it smoothly, … the relationship continues,” she said. “If we find ourselves in a real struggle, … it always takes some time to build back that trust.”

Reflecting on past negotiations, Weir recalled a difficult round six years ago.

“It did kind of set the tone and send a message that the administration is interested in more flexibility to do as they please with workers,” she said.

This period coincided with mass layoffs and the outsourcing of custodial services, which she said marked a shift in campus culture.

“There was always a sense of we’re all in it, … and I think that … took a big hit,” she said.

While individual relationships within departments may still feel collaborative, Weir noted that “it doesn’t feel the same on campus.”

Much of the bargaining will unfold over the summer months when many students are away. Weir emphasized the importance of building solidarity and spreading awareness regardless of the season. She also stressed the need for a better public understanding of labor history.

“We live in a world where there is very little labor history offered,” she said. “People don’t realize how unions have protected and advanced healthcare, paid days off, … even in non-unionized workplaces. …unions provide a voice … and the voices of the many help even out the power imbalance.”