Interview with U.C. Berkeley Student, Lecturer, and Clerical Worker on current demands

Worker demands include:

* stop layoffs and hiring freezes, rescind furloughs and pay cuts
* cease union busting practices, honor existing contracts, and bargain fairly with workers
* increase wages to reflect cost of living increases, improve workplace conditions
* respect immigrant rights, no police raids on campus, not UCPD, Berkeley PD, or ICE (reportedly an ICE raid and arrest recently occured)
* reduce salaries and stop bonuses given to all UC administrators
* use billions in unrestricted funds and profits for teaching and educational needs
* a greater share of funding come from State and Federal governments
* corporate tax reform so that big business can help fund public higher education in California

While U.C. administrators blame the economy and State budget cuts for the problems - while unwilling to open their books to share financial facts - student and worker activists see things that suggest otherwise. They site large management salary, bonus, and benefits increases; very large reserves; general fund payoffs to athletics with big-time commercial sports operating at a deficit; many construction activities on campus which require money, and some think student fees may be diverted to fund some of these projects.

Actions will continue, and activists will look to develop solidarity and coordinated activities throughout the statewide system.