Strike Affects UC Santa Cruz Classes, Operations

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- As part of a one-day strike at nine UC campuses and five medical centers, several hundred protesters, including many students, have gathered outside of the University of California, Santa Cruz.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has called the strike today against the University of California system in connection with ongoing contract negotiations. <snip>

http://www.foxreno.com/news/4381869/detail.html


EMPLOYEES RALLY AT UC BERKELEY AS PART OF STATEWIDE STRIKE

Several hundred sign-carrying custodians, food service workers and other lower-paid employees rallied at the University of California, Berkeley at noon today as part of a one-day strike at nine UC campuses and five medical centers.

Cathryn Lybarger, a gardener at UC Berkeley and an activist with Local 3299 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, which organized today's action, said employees are unhappy because their wages have been frozen for two years and contract talks over the last 10 months have been unproductive.

Lybarger said union members walked out today because they believe the university is bargaining in bad faith. She said unresolved issues at the bargaining table include working conditions, wages, hiring and promotions policies.

Nearly half of AFSCME members who work at UC make less than a living wage, she said. <snip>

http://cbs5.com/localwire/localfsnews/bcn/2005/04/14/n/HeadlineNews/JOB-ACTION/resources_bcn_html

OAKLAND, Calif., April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of the lowest paid University of California workers began walking picket lines on UC campuses and at UC medical centers early today, receiving overwhelming support from students, community members, and other workers. 7,300 UC service workers are striking to make UC a better place to live, study and work and to protest UC’s refusal to bargain in good faith.

"The response to the strike has been extremely strong among service workers, almost all of whom will walk the picket line today, and we have received overwhelming support from the students, other workers and the community," said Craig Merrilees, director of local AFSCME 3299, which represents the service workers.

"We’re seeing fabulous turnout here," said Kathryn Lybarger, a gardener at UC Berkeley. "Workers are feeling very powerful on the picket line. People are honking on the street. Everyone is feeling strong and united." At UC Berkeley, hundreds of workers and their supporters have been at Sproul Plaza starting at 6 am and hundreds more are on other picket lines around campus.

Almost all UC service workers are walking one of many picket lines until late tonight on all nine campuses, at all five medical centers, and at the Lawrence Berkeley Lab, instead of going to work. Students and other workers are joining the picket lines around the state. On some campuses, students and faculty members are holding their own events, such as meetings with Chancellors and "teach-ins," in support of the service workers. <snip>

http://www.mysan.de/article79185.html


<edit:> CA Greens Support Striking Workers at UC Campuses

OAKLAND (April 13, 2005) - The Green Party of California has pledged its support and solidarity with low-wage workers at all 10 University of California campuses who have announced that a campus-wide strike will begin this Thursday morning.

AFSCME (American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees) union members voted overwhelmingly in March to authorize a system-wide strike on behalf of 7,300 workers against the UC to protest bad faith bargaining. Workers have not had a contract for nearly a year, and earn much less than workers at other state colleges.

Greens are expected to honor the picket lines and join strikers on the front lines. The GPCA platform states employees in the U.S. and around the world have the right to organize and operate a democratic, member-run union to assure their workplace rights. <snip>

http://www.gp.org/press/states/ca_2005_04_13b.html