As negotiations continue between Ohio University and the United Academics of Ohio University, some Athens businesses, including Minuteman Press, The Little Professor Book Center, Court Street Coffee, Donkey Coffee and Brenen’s Coffee Cafe, began expressing their support for the UAOU with red posters in their windows.
The UAOU is involved with ongoing university negotiations regarding compensation and better working conditions, according to a previous report by The Post.
As of Aug. 20, the university has not responded to the UAOU’s compensation proposal, which was submitted in October.
The University Communications and Marketing team was asked via email how the university feels about support from businesses and if public support would sway the university’s decisions.
Dan Pittman, the senior director of communication for UCM, wrote, “OHIO respects the right of all local businesses and community members to freely express their views.”
Pittman went on to write how the university continues to make efforts in collective bargaining negotiations.
“University leadership looks forward to building on the positive momentum in collective bargaining negotiations with the United Academics of Ohio University,” Pittman said in an email. “We remain focused on reaching an agreement that supports our faculty while advancing OHIO’s academic mission and long-term institutional success.”
Chris Pyle, owner of Donkey Coffee at 17 W. Washington St., said he is a long-time supporter of the union, and when he was approached about putting up a UAOU support poster, it was an easy decision.
“We want to help the ‘little guy,’ and so that's always been our thing here,” Pyle said. “We're really into justice and charity.”
Pyle also said he was disappointed by how the university is handling negotiations with the UAOU.
“I was kind of upset, too, reading about the president just kicking the can down the road and not showing up at meetings and all these things … it's been over a year now, and nothing's happened, and it's not the union's fault,” Pyle said. “So I just feel like it's pretty lame. I expected more from this president and more from just the administration, at least taking it seriously.”
Nicholas Polsinelli, owner of Little Professor Book Center at 65 S. Court St., said by putting up the poster at Little Professor, he hopes to see more of a connection between the university and the city.
“There's always been a stark divide between Ohio University and Athens, and I think that's absurd,” Polsinelli said. “I would like to get back to a point when there was a union of Athens and the university, and this is our way of saying the professors are the people that interact with the town more often … and that the city of Athens and the people in it care a lot about that.”
Polsinelli also said he is passionate about the UAOU support and unions in general.
“Unions are, in many ways, representative of the foundation of our entire country,” Polsinelli said. “They're about rights, and they're about making sure that people have rights. And when we don't have unions, people are being taken advantage of because they don't have rights. It’s just simply antithetical to the foundation of our entire culture.”
Polsinelli said he does not think local support will change the university’s mind, however, he hopes public support will help the UAOU’s cause.
“I would hope that they care about the opinions, not only of the people that work at their establishment, but also of the people that surround their establishment and encourage a lot of cross-pollination of ideas and workforce and culture,” Polsinelli said. “So, I hope they pay attention and realize this means something to us.”
The UAOU’s next steps include a rally Sep. 9 at noon on College Green.
