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Santa Cruz Indymedia Education & Student Activism Labor & Workers

UC Service Workers Announce STRIKE on June 4th and 5th

by ~Bradley (bradley [at] riseup.net)

Sat, May 24, 2008 12:20AM

On May 23rd, 2008, workers at the University of California at Santa Cruz, and across the entire UC system, announced the almost unanimous vote of "Yes!" to strike to win a fair contract. Workers and students assembled in the Baytree Plaza at UC Santa Cruz to publicize the overwhelmingly affirmative vote to strike for two days from Wednesday, June 4th through Thursday, June 5th. However, the workers, who have been negotiating in good faith since August, still hold hope that a strike can be averted.

The central issue has been that wages have fallen dramatically behind other hospitals (UC has 5 medical centers) and California's community colleges where workers are paid an average of 25% higher for the same work. For service workers, wages are as low as $10 an hour, forcing many to work 2-3 jobs or rely on public assistance to meet the basic needs of their families.

20,000 UC Workers Announce Strike Vote (May 13th)

20,000 University of California Workers Vote to STRIKE (May 23rd)

Here are some links to photo coverage from previous AFSCME actions from the 2007 - 2008 school year at UCSC:

Student and Worker Solidarity Kicks Off School Year at UCSC (September 27th, 2007)
UC Workers and Students Picket in Support of AFSCME's Contract Fight (December 6th, 2007)
UCSC Workers Offer New Year Resolutions To Shape Up UC (January 31st, 2008)
Students and Workers Block Road at UCSC to Protest Poverty Wages (February 28th, 2008)
Prospective Students of Color Visit UCSC and Demand a Fair Contract for Workers (April 11th, 2008)
UCSC Reunion Luncheon Interrupted to Demand Fair Wages for Workers (April 26th, 2008)

§AUDIO: UC Service Workers Announce STRIKE on June 4th and 5th

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 24, 2008 12:20AM

Listen now:

Copy the code below to embed this audio into a web page:

Download Audio (9.5MB) | Embed Audio

Time: 20:50

In this May 23rd recording from the Baytree Plaza at UC Santa Cruz, the historic announcement to strike is read by Rosario Cortes, a Senior Custodian and the MC of this press conference. We also hear from Lilia Reynoso, a 4th year student and active organizer with the Student Worker Coalition for Justice. Bill Monning, Professor of Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and Candidate for the 27th Assembly District, also spoke in support of the workers. Finally we hear from Nicholas Gutierrez, a worker and negotiator on behalf of AFSCME.

But first we begin with Paul Ortiz, a Professor in the Community Studies department, discussing the reputation of UC Santa Cruz.

§Paul Ortiz

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 24, 2008 12:20AM

Paul Ortiz is a Professor in the Community Studies department at UC Santa Cruz. Spring 2008 is Paul's last quarter at UCSC as he and his partner Shelia Payne prepare to move to Florida where Paul has been named director of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida.

Paul Ortiz: Head of the CLAS
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/05/23/18501917.php

§Lilia Reynoso

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 24, 2008 12:20AM

Lilia Reynoso is a 4th year student and active organizer with the Student Worker Coalition for Justice.

§Make Some Noise!

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 24, 2008 12:20AM

§Bill Monning

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 24, 2008 12:20AM

Bill Monning, Professor of Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and Candidate for the 27th Assembly District, spoke in support of the workers.

§Rosario Cortes

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 24, 2008 12:20AM

"I'm striking for my family. It's a shame that I work at a world-renowned University but they aren't paying me enough to support my family. UC has a responsibility to our communities to provide good jobs, starting by agreeing to a minimum wage that would lift many of us out of poverty."

Rosario Cortes is a Senior Custodian at UCSC and was the MC of the press conference.

§Nicholas Gutierrez

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 24, 2008 12:20AM

Nicholas Gutierrez is a worker and negotiator on behalf of AFSCME.

§Allison Sirny-Guerva

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 24, 2008 12:20AM

Allison Sirny-Guerva is an Organizer with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299. AFSCME is the union representing 20,000 patient care and service workers in the University of Califonia system.
http://afscme3299.org

§Strike Solidarity

by ~Bradley

Sat, May 24, 2008 12:20AM