Editorial: Compromise can solve talks

The University and a union need to make concessions to avoid a nasty strike. The operating engineers keep the University running -- they're responsible for repairing and maintaining the steam systems, laboratories and offices on and around campus. They provided invaluable assistance to U2's road crew in preparing for last week's concert. In other words, a strike would noticeably and negatively affect the little things and ultimately the big things at Penn. According to union sources, the University's proposed contract -- the old one expired June 1 -- freezes medical benefits at their current level and discontinues a policy that paid laid-off employees for the duration of the contract. Since these are the union's main bones of contention, they're also the areas ripest for compromise. The union should let the University eliminate the so-called lay-off policy -- workers in the late 1990s just can't expect this kind of provision, though they should still be entitled to some severance pay. The University then should increase union members' medical benefits so they can keep up with spiraling health-care costs. Because the unionized University Police officers couldn't strike, they worked eight months without a contract until last March, hurting morale and increasing the officers' contempt for their employer. But Local 835 has the bargaining chip the Fraternal Order of Police doesn't. Local 835 would be wise not to use it -- if the union and the University can reach an agreement soon.