Santarcangelo, Michael, 2004 October 13

Part of Collection

Call Number: RU 1055, Series Accession 2008-A-001

Scope and Contents

Michael Santarcangelo describes his employment with Yale University since 1963. He focuses on his membership in the Yale University Union, in which his father also participated during the 1950s. He describes his interest in union organizing that started from being exposed to his parents' experiences in the union. After joining the union, he was eventually promoted to leadership positions and created strong business and personal relationships with fellow union members and leaders, such as John Wilhelm and Vinny Sirabella. He talks about why he believes that unions enhance the philosophy and practice of employer-employee relationships, sharing examples illustrating union measures in three stages: mobilization, demonstration, and negotiation. Specifically, these are: identifying the working conditions or contract terms believed to be a problem in need of change; communicating with other area and state union members to research the working conditions and contract terms of their employers; uniting members with a common interest in changing the issue and a common vision of the way in which it may be improved; forming a platform of the conditions or terms to be changed reflecting its members' concerns; creating organizing tactics against resistant labor administrators and other non-union affiliating employees; and, finally, presenting their grievances to labor authorities to negotiate and, in certain cases, change, the employees' working conditions or contract terms. Santarcangelo stresses the importance of mutual respect and tolerance in the employer-employee and labor authority-union relationships and in the general working environment.

Interviewer: Levendis, Marissa

Length (min): 30

Dates

2004 October 13

Conditions Governing Access

As a preservation measure, original materials may not be used. Digital access copies must be provided for use. Contact Manuscripts and Archives at mssa.assist@yale.edu to request access