Feature Archives

On April 26th, the Stop BP-Berkeley student group opposing the $500 million dollar contract between oil giant British Petroleum and the University of California Berkeley held its first teach-in on the issues surrounding the agreement. Meanwhile, the newly-formed Phoenix coalition, which emphasizes direct action to "free the University of California," occupied a redwood tree in the heart of campus to raise awareness of the issue.

On April 22nd, Berkeley celebrated the 28th anniversary of the founding of People's Park. There was music, poetry, speakers, a Food Not Bombs lunch, and much more. Among those speaking and tabling were activists focusing on the Berkeley oaks tree-sit, resistance to UC's sellout to BP, and anti-war organizing.

Immigrant workers at the Woodfin Suites have faced fierce retaliation for standing up for their rights under Measure C - the local living wage law. After mass firings just before Christmas, workers are still fighting for job security and the more than $160,000 in backwages that the hotel owes them. On April 10th, Woodfin workers, faith leaders, Emeryville residents and friends took part in a ceremonial procession from Emeryville’s City Hall, through the Bay Street shopping center, and on to the Woodfin Suites.

On March 16th the Bay Area IWW held two workplace intervention rallies. The first was at Curbside Recycling in Berkeley to show support to the shop steward for alleged harassment (including unpaid suspension) on the part of management. Later there was a rally outside of Shattuck Cinemas, also in Berkeley, where the IWW has won a representation election. Landmark Cinemas, the parent corporation, has been stalling on a contract, trying to get in clauses which could bankrupt the union in mediation or take away the rights of the workers to act on their own.

With royal fanfare, British Petroleum just donated big money in research funds for UC Berkeley, Lawrence Livermore Laboratories, and the University of Illinois to develop new sources of energy—primarily biotechnology to produce biofuel crops. This comes on the anniversary of Berkeley’s hapless research deal with seed giant Novartis ten years ago. However, at 500 million dollars, the BP grant dwarfs Novartis’ investment by a factor of ten. The graphics of the announcement were unmistakable: BP’s corporate logo is perfectly aligned with the flags of the Nation, the State, and the University.

On April 5th, over a thousand teachers in the Hayward Unified School District went on strike. Pickets took place throughout the day in front of the 38 school sites in the 20,000-student Hayward district. There was also a noon rally of parents, teachers and other supporters in Birchfield Park.

On Saturday, April 7th, the anti-war movement returned to the Oakland docks. Four years after the Oakland police attack against an anti-war demonstration at the port, protesters decried the lack of funding for schools and social services in Oakland and Alameda County. Supplies for the military ship from the Port of Oakland every day. The protest also demanded that the troops be brought back home and given the healthcare that they need.