The Teamsters Union Local 8 called off contract neogtiations with the University today because of concerns about the University negotiating a management services contract for University bookstores with a private company.
The union contract with the University expires on June 30, said Greg Sampsell, president of the Teamsters. He added that negotiations with the University had been ongoing.
Sampsell said the union, which represents approximately 2,500 employees of the University, is concerned how union employees will be treated in the future.
"This is very threatening," he said. "With the wage scale declining across the country, we are very concerned."
He added that Teamsters are worried the University may begin seeking involvement in other services from outside companies.
The University announced Wednesday they would pursue negotiations with Barnes & Noble of New York concerning the management of University bookstores.
The union's negotiations with the University broke off when a University representative was unable to answer questions the Teamsters had about the proposed negotiations with Barnes & Noble about managing the bookstore.
"They could not answer our questions about the effect (a private company managing the bookstore) would have on employees," Sampsell said.
Roger Williams, executive director of University relations, said the University understands and respects the Teamsters' concerns, but added that there would not be a loss of jobs as a result of the negotiations with Barnes & Noble.
"We are not selling or leasing the University's bookstores," Williams said. "We are contracting only for management services of the bookstores."
Williams added that only seven of the University's 120 bookstore employees are union members, and that a majority of union members work for such departments as the Office of Housing and Food Services and the Office of Physical Plant.
Sampsell said negotiations would resume once University officials addressed the Teamsters' concerns.
James Elliott, University director of human resources, said contract negotiations with the Teamsters had been making good progress until yesterday.
