The YDN follows the 76 casualties of John Pepper's approach to labor-management partnership: The union always encourages its members to take advantage of learning opportunities, Smith said. But she said the union members feel there had not been sufficient communication with the workers before the layoffs occurred and dispute that the job cuts would even necessarily save Yale money. "As one would expect, these workers are angry and disappointed that Yale would have chosen to take this action, particularly at this time when we're trying to build a new relationship here," Smith said.