I worked at Boston University from 1979 to 1989, starting two weeks before the historic strike for union recognition, and continuing on as an officer of the B.U. local of District 65/UAW for most of the next decade. In the face of intense opposition from John Silber, the right-wing ideologue president of B.U., we built a feisty, democratic, feminist union that made major gains, dramatically influenced many people's lives, spawned many talented labor activists, and was a leader around issues such as gay/lesbian rights, new office technology, and labor solidarity. I cut my teeth on union activism at B.U. and am proud to have been one of the leaders of this local. I periodically wrote analyses of what was happening with the union; I hope these will some day be of interest to historians and labor activists.
1979 Strike Analysis - written collectively
A Funny Things Happened on the Way to the Negotiating Table - a 1979 musical history of District 65 at B.U. This play, written mostly by Cyd Weldon and David Greenberg, was performed several times around the time of the strike for union recognition. I appear in it and wrote one of the songs: My Favorite Things (starts at 8:10 on VTS 01 2).
The Union's Relationship with Management (1983)
Where We're At - Fall 1983
Who Got What out of the "New Relationship with Management"?
The Lost Election at the B.U. Medical Campus
John Silber runs for Governor - and my unsuccessful effort to get Massachusetts Democrats to stop him, ushering in many years of Republican governors