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Work cautiously begins on Amherst, Waterfront sites by Curt Miller Campus Editor consulted in formulating the plan. At the start qf Gov. Rockefeller’s speech,, the minority demonstrators also sang “We shall overcome” for a brief time. not have to increase the number of non-white members to above 10.6%, a figure representing approximate minority residency in the Buffalo area. Despite a continuing dispute between minority groups and unions concerning hiring and training programs, clearing operations have begun on the State University of Buffalo’s Amherst campus site. Construction qt Buffalo’s Waterfront Development Project also got under way at groundbreaking ceremonies on June 8. Edward J. Logue, president of the State Urban Development Corporation which will build the first phase of 141 apartments in the project which will total 2,400 housing units, asked for minority group cooperation. “We will be building very desperately needed housing directed to people who need it most. It will be built by people from all segments of the community. It will take a partnership effort involving the whole community to finish the job,” he said. Some unions already have a non-white membership of 10.6%, while others fall short of this figure. Rev. Hemphill charged that the unions would not have to hire any more minority workers under the present program and could satisfy the standards merely by reshuffling workers. Minor changes in percentages would make a significant difference in minority hiring. The Building Trades Council of Buffalo and Vioinity estimate that the Amherst project alone will involve about 9,000 jobs, the present plan providing approximately 2,500 positions for minority workers. The Minority Coalition, however, is asking for 3500 positions. The plan also leaves minority training programs up to thj unions “in good faith.” Rev. Hemphill rejects this proposal claiming the unions have done nothing in good faith. He added that he could not trust minority hiring to the unions which, at their national conventions, denied the existence of inequalities in hiring. The Coalition president has proposed a meeting with unions and contractors, however, he has been informed by the state that the proposal was refused. “We are no closer than before to agreement of this problem,” he said. “How can there be true negotiation if no one is there to negotiate.” Despite continued objections from the Minority Coalition, construction has begun at both the Amherst campus and the Buffalo Waterfront Development Project. Unions prevail Both projects have been delayed as the result of a moratorium on state construction projects in the Buffalo area, effected in Mar. 1969. Although Gov. Rockefeller lifted the 11 month work halt order on Feb. 13, last week’s ceremonies symbolized the end of the moratorium. enforcing equal opportunity requirements on government contracts and insuring consistent standards of compliance in all government agencies. The Coalition is pushing for intervention as a possible means of settling the year long dispute. called for induction of from 300 to 500 trainees into the trade during the first year. Classroom and on the job training were among the other proposals. Gov. Rockefeller held an unscheduled meeting with minority groups following the groundbreaking ceremony. Included in the session was the Minority Coalition, a group initially funded by the state to determine minority community interest in the construction industry and in working out an effective program of minority training. Gov. Rockefeller addressed a crowd of nearly 300 at the site of the Waterfront construction project and appealed to minority community leaders to accept an “affirmative action” agreement negotiated by the State University Construction Fund. The plan provides for the training and employment of minority group members in the construction trades unions. The plan was accepte; by representatives of 25 contracting associations. The unions withdrew their support soon afterwards, however, in response to new policies adopted by the AFL-CIO national board regarding equal employment opportunities. The policy encouraged local unions to invite the application of qualified minority workers however rejected the idea of any type of quota system for minority workers to enter the unions. Rocky’s plan Past history The moratorium was first proposed last March by University President Martin Meyerson, in conjunction with student protests about the “racist nature” of the construction unions. Students demanded that an integrated work force build the 1,200 acre, $600 million Amherst campus. On Mar. 20, Dr. Anthony G. Adinolfi, general manager of the State University Construction fund, announced that all State University construction projects in the Buffalo area would be halted for an indefinite period of time. This decision later delayed construction of the $73 million Waterfront project slated to begin on Oct. 14. Coalition President Rev. Ralph T, Hemphill said no progress was made at the meeting. “The governor got a good education about what was in his program and he found portions which even he found objectionable,” he added. The governor said the plan is a major breakthrough which will make minority workers a permanent part of expanding unions. He added that the plan might set the pattern for the entire state and perhaps the entire nation. Confronted with mounting pressure on all sides Gov. Rockefeller indicated in December that the moratorium might soon be lifted. Niagara Frontier businessmen pushed for the project which would pump an estimated $200 million a year into the local economy. Overcrowding on the Main St. campus, and the delay in setting up the newly created collegiate units brough University pressure on the governor. No faith Rev. Hemphill calls the program presented by state officials “wholly unacceptable” and charges that formation of an acceptable program has been blocked by union refusal to agree to necessary program changes. One of Rev. Hemphill's objections is that unions would Community partnership Members of the minority community carried placards proclaiming: “No agreement, no work,” because they were not While the dispute continues the possibility of the U.S. Department of Labor intervening increases. The department is responsible for The principals involved with working out an effective program of minority training are: the Building Trades Council of Buffalo and Vicitity (AFL-CIO), representing local construction unions; the Construction Industry Employers Association, representing local builders, and the Minority Coalition representing the minority community. Student organizations probed In February Gov. Rockefeller lifted the moratorium, announcing his “affirmative action plan.” The plan was formulated by a special negotiating team including representatives from the unions and industry. The Minority Coalition' was not included in the negotiating sessions refused to accept the plan. The Erie County holdover - March Grand Jury is continuing its investigation of the University. The scope of the investigation has widened to the point that almost everyone in the University has been, is, or will be involved. records and membership lists have been subpoenaed. An earlier subpoena on Acting President Peter Regan demanded all employment records of the Faculty 45. It also demanded all information relating to a group of students and Colleges A, E, and F After the contents of the subpoena were disclosed Harold Fahringer, attorney for the Faculty 45, quashed it in County Court, and Fascism has been named in several separate indictments. Bayger presides Presided over by County Judge Frank R. Bayger, the Grand Jury is officially investigating “a charge of conspiracy, offenses against persons , property, public administration, public order, safety and health, offenses involving fraud under the Penal Law and Revised Penal Law and violations of the State Education Law and other matters of every nature whatsoever appertaining thereto.” The investigation is being handled by the District Attorney’s office. In September the three groups proposed to open more positions in the building industries for minority groups. The program In one of its more recent actions, the Grand Jury subpoenaed the financial records of all student organizations, including the Chess Club and The Community Aid Corps. Some of the earlier subpoenas included financial records of Faculty-Student Association, GSA, Student Bar Association, Student Association and Publications Board. All SDS Bianchi arrested Luigi Bianchi, an assistant professor at the State University of Buffalo was arrested last Sunday night on charges of disorderly conduct and falsely reporting an incident in connection with the University’s graduation exercise on May 29. The arrest stemmed from a complaint made by Lt. Edward Dmowski of the campus police. Indictments The Grand Jury has handed up at least nine indictments during the four months of its existence. These have (alleged crimes) ranging from conspiracy to The Concerned Law Students commit arson and inciting to riot, through unauthorized use of a State motor vehicle. Jason Karp was convicted of disorderly conduct before Judge Joseph Sedita in City court and acquitted of making unreasonable noise. The Spectrum is published three times e week, every Monday, Attorney Michael Dillon to have the Grand Jury investigate incidents of Buffalo police firing regular academic year by the Faculty-Student Association of the Stale University of New York at Buffalo, Inc. Offices are located at 355 Norton Hall, State University of New York at Buffalo. 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14214. Telephone: Area Code 716; Editorial, 831-2210; Business, 831-3610. At least 18 different people have been named in one or more indictments. Daniel Bentivogli, chairman of Youth Against War birdshot at students but it is not yet known whether the Grand Jury plans to investigate this matter. sentenced Marshall Barner and Carl Kronberg to IS days in jail and $100 fines concerning their participation in the “ROTC dance” demonstrations on campus last October. Represented for advertising by National Educational Advertising Service, Inc., 18 E. 50th Street, New York, New York 10022. Second Class Postage paid at Buffalo. New York. Circulation: 15,000. Page two . The Spectrum . Friday, June 19, 1970
