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The Top Threat to Safety of UNM Students and Workers: UNM Management's Campaign of Carelessness

This week will mean a return to campus for thousands of University of New Mexico students beginning their spring semester. Meanwhile, two former UNM employees will come back to UNM not to resume the jobs they loved, but to protest their recent terminations. They will gather with community allies, coworkers, and members of the IWW at the new George Pearl Hall located on the corner of Cornell and Central. There they will speak out about the lack of respect that UNM management has for university employees and what happens when workers speak up about health and safety issues.

RETIRE OR BE FIRED

Mike Swick had worked for UNM for 19 years when he was forced into early retirement. Mike is a former library facilities coordinator as well as a cofounder of the United Staff UNM union.

He was forced to retire after reporting to his supervisor that an iron gate at Zimmerman Library was extremely unsafe. Months later the same gate fell on guitarist Hector Pimentel, who was almost killed. (The Daily Lobo Nov 3, 2005)

LAID OFF

Ferydoun “Fred” Mahinfarahmand was the wood shop supervisor at the School of Architecture and Planning from 1996-2005. Fred was laid off in December 2005 after writing a letter to the Associate Dean asking her to obey the shop safety rules. The Dean then closed the shop and laid off Fred, citing “health and safety issues.” The administration had known that the ventilator in the shop failed to meet safety standards for years. For speaking out for a safe workplace and for trying to enforce safety rules, Fred was shown the door after a decade of dedicated work.

BUT BY NO MEANS DEFEATED.

Mike, Fred, and IWW members will be picketing the new George Pearl Building on UNM for the first few weeks of classes. In the future, the group plans to create a television and radio project to help workers tell their stories and defend their rights.

We want to send a message to workers at UNM,” says Fred, “We don’t want anyone else to be fired like us. You have the right to work in a safe place. If you are working at UNM now, and have safety or health concerns, come forward and contact us.”

Picket Schedule:
Wednesday, January 23, 12 - 1pm Friday Jan 25, 12-1pm
Monday Jan 28, 11am-1pm Tuesday Jan 29, 11am-1pm

For More Information:
Mike
Fred at (505) 907-6418
CJ Levine

Industrial Workers of the World, Albuquerque

  • Email - abq [at] iww.org
  • Web - abq.iww.org
  • Mail - 929 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104