On March 5, students at UC Santa Cruz occupied the Hahn building in an ongoing resistance to the appointment of Janet Napolitano as president of the University of California system. The occupation follows a march to Kerr Hall on February 26, when students attempted to enter the offices of UCSC's Chancellor. Support for UC workers is central to the demands of student demonstrators, and over the course of the recent protests, labor victories have been gained as the university has given into demands by Graduate Student Workers and AFSCME Workers in separate negotiations.

Student protests against Napolitano, the former head of homeland security who was involved with the deportation of over 1.5 million undocumented Americans, have been widespread across the University of California system. UCSC students protested the appointment of Napolitano during her visit to the Santa Cruz campus on October 18, and they organized their most recent demonstrations in solidarity with students at UC Berkeley, who occupied the Blum Center on February 13.

Following two major victories for workers, labor groups have expressed appreciation for the student demonstrations. On February 27, AFSCME (American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees) Local 3299 announced they had reached what they called a "historic" tentative contract agreement with the University of California. On March 4, Graduate Student Workers at UC Santa Cruz announced that, after two days of discussions, management had given in to all of their demands. They say that there will be no more underpaid undergrad TAs, back pay ($6000 each) for all those who've already been in that position will be paid, there will be a serious reduction in TA workload for poorly planned Arts department classes, and a committee will be established to make recommendations for class-sizes with equal voices for labor and management.

UCSC Students Shut Down Registrar, Occupy Hahn Building | Photos | Students End Hahn Occupation | March 5-6 UCSC Hahn Occupation Statement from Autonomous Students

See Also: UCSC Graduate Student Workers Receive Demands, Cancel Strike | As UC Continues Bad Faith Bargaining with Patient Care Workers, ULP Strike Vote Scheduled | AFSCME 3299 Cancels Strike, Announces "Historic" Agreement for UC Service Workers | At UCSC Rally, Students Continue to Seek Napolitano's Resignation and Justice for Workers | UC Student Worker Justice Network Demands Fair Contract for AFSCME 3299 Workers | UC Service Workers Announce Five Day Strike | Janet Napolitano Visit Protested at UC Santa Cruz

Related Indybay Feature: UC Berkeley Students Occupy Blum Center