The photos lasted on the partition for several weeks after the grievance was filed. Then the manager told us that HR wanted the photos to come down until the grievance was resolved. Should I refuse and risk charges of insubordination? I felt responsible for the well-being of the photos (and their owners) and I didn't want to give management such an easy target. Seeking an answer, I went in search of other union members, who advised me to remove the photos for the duration.

It felt like defeat. However, the manager had informed me that it was permissible to have framed photos not larger than 8" x 10" on one's desk top, so a co-worker and I used our 1/2 hour lunch break to race to University Art and buy ten 8" x 10" picture frames, which we used to frame the photos removed from the partition. The photos took up a lot of space on our desks, but we weren't ready to give up the smiling faces of our co-workers.

Then on May 27th, the day that management had to respond or let the grievance go to arbitration, I received word that Human Resources had decided that it was OK to have employee photographs on our partition. Jubilant, I replaced the photos. In this photo, we see Judy Ferreira (vascular lab tech and new union member), pointing to a photo of one of the radiologists in a skeleton suit. If you examine the photographs closely, you will see Judy as a blond college princess (centerof photo). How much richer life is when you can see your fellow employees in all their variety and splendor!