Pete Rorabaugh and Rebecca Hill
Recorded
December 11, 2021
Archived
December 11, 2021
43:34 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
atl004555
Description
Colleagues Pete Rorabaugh (48) and Rebecca Hill (52) talk about the founding of Kennesaw State University's chapter of the United Campus Workers of Georgia.Subject Log / Time Code
Rebecca Hill (52) says she and Pete Rorabaugh (48) are colleagues at Kennesaw State University (KSU). She says they have come to StoryCorps to talk about the KSU chapter of the United Campus Workers of Georgia (UCWGA).
Rebecca says she first learned about unions from movies like Norma Rae, which starred Sally Field. She says her parents were progressive.
Rebecca remembers an unsuccessful attempt to organize a union at the University of Minnesota. She says her first union was at City University of New York.
Pete says he has lived in the south most of his adult life. He recalls his father working for as a pilot for Eastern Airlines during the 1980s and early 90s. He says his father belonged to the Airline Pilots Association.
Pete talks about living in Peachtree City, Georgia, and says it was saturated with airline employees. He remembers people being harassed for crossing the picket lines.
Pete remembers the consolidation of Kennesaw State University and Southern Polytechnic State University. He says student protests were triggered by the appointment of a new university president.
Rebecca talks about her hopes for the KSU chapter of UCWGA. She talks about her previous experience on a unionized campus and says people were more trusting. She says she missed that environment when she came to KSU.
Rebecca gives examples of times the union stepped in to support the faculty at her previous campus.
Pete talks about a current situation at KSU involving eCORE (electronic core-curriculum) .
Pete remembers finding out that UGA (University of Georgia) had a union. He says as a result he thought that KSU could now move forward. He remembers the meeting called in November of 2018.
Rebecca says the meeting was exciting. She says people were also scared.
Rebecca talks about studying models of unions. She says KSU's union is open to everyone not just faculty.
Pete talks about the furloughs that occurred at KSU during the first 3 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pete talks about the campaigns on campus to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Rebecca talks about the efforts to reach more people. She says COVID-19 has made it harder. Pete talks about word of mouth.
Rebecca says she wants to reach the point where people know where to go for help whether they belong to the union or not.
Rebecca talks about being connected to other universities through the union.
Pete says he is looking forward to connecting union members with state organizers.
Rebecca and Pete share their current role with KSU's union as well as any past positions held.
Participants
- Pete Rorabaugh
- Rebecca Hill