Monthly Archives: June 2006

It’s Official: SEIU Invited to Organize UM Workers

Posted on June 15, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

As predicted:

A majority of janitors and other contract workers at the University of Miami decided to join the Service Employees International Union, the organization announced Thursday, capping a battle with their private employer that included a walkout and hunger strike by some employees.

More than 60 percent of the 425 workers with Unicco Service Co. favored joining the union, organizers said. The results were certified by the American Arbitration Association.

“We are invisible no more. It is an incredible feeling to finally have a voice and the strength to improve our lives,” said Maritza Paz, a janitor.

Unicco spokesman Doug Bailey said the two sides will now begin collective bargaining.

–AP via bradenton.com.

Posted in U.Miami: Strike'06 | 6 Comments

Hi There

Posted on June 15, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

Just wanted to say Hi to my reader from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Whoever you are.

Posted in Discourse.net | Comments Off on Hi There

More on Hedgehog Sexing

Posted on June 15, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

The other day I mentioned Robert Waldmann’s troubles getting Google to show him an image of a hedgehog genital. This subject won’t die. In Infothought: “Zen and the art of sexing hedgehogs”, Seth Finkelstein says it shows that searching images is harder than text, but that the information is there if you know how to find it via text searches.

Meanwhile Robert has extensively updated his original post and posted a small followup…that suggests to me Seth is right…

Posted in Internet | Comments Off on More on Hedgehog Sexing

Student Discipline Update

Posted on June 15, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

Picketline reproduces a very informative Daily Business Review article on the state of play in the student discipline hearings. Separately, there is news that requests for delay until the start of term — when students could be involved in the hearing — are being denied. So far, I have heard of one sentence of 30 hours community service and two semesters probation; this is subject to appeal to yet another dean.

Posted in U.Miami: Strike'06 | Comments Off on Student Discipline Update

Miami-Dade Schools Ban Cuba Book

Posted on June 15, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

A parent complained that an insipid children’s book, part of a series of picture books on nations and cultures of the world, was too pro-Cuban. The two local committees that reviewed the book said it should not be banned. The head of the school system said it should not be banned. But the Miami-Dade school board — led by a man who’s about to run for State Senate — decided to ban it anyway.

Lawsuits to ensue.

Posted in Miami | 2 Comments

DHS Mission Creep, the Incompetent Way

Posted on June 14, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

Ray LeMoine, Los Angeles Times, Terrorist in a bootleg T-shirt on what DHS is screening for at our borders: local offenses, not terrorist contacts.

It’s a funny column in an awful sort way. We expected DHS mission creep. Normally, though, it takes a little longer…and the creep adds to the mission rather than overtaking it. But then again, this is the DHS, the people making a strong bid to displace the VA for the coveted title of “most dysfunctional agency.”

That said, though, on reflection I find that I’m not as offended as the author by the idea that people with warrants out for them might be stopped at the border in either direction. Even if the warrant is from a state or local court, why is this an evil form of federal assistance? I’m a big supporter of the right to travel, but does this offend it? I’m dubious.

And, maybe in an odd way it is reassuring to know that DHS still isn’t competent enough to make use of all those wiretaps…

Posted in Law: Right to Travel | Comments Off on DHS Mission Creep, the Incompetent Way