Despite a temporary restraining order, pickets ignore order, demand better pay

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/education/20080715-9999-1m15uc.html

By Sherry Saavedra
STAFF WRITER
and James P. Sweeney
U-T SACRAMENTO BUREAU

July 15, 2008

SAN DIEGO – Despite a temporary restraining order against a strike, hundreds of University of California San Diego service workers began picketing with their brethren statewide yesterday for better wages.

They included custodians, groundskeepers, housekeepers and food-preparation employees who work for the UCSD campus and UCSD Medical Center system.

At issue is a dispute over salary increases for 8,500 service workers statewide represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299.

Pickets marched on the UCSD campus, and outside UCSD Thornton Hospital in La Jolla and UCSD Medical Center Hillcrest.

Some of the strikers said they were forced to work two jobs to get by.

Russell Rucinski, 64, supplements his $11.59-an-hour, 40-hour-a-week custodial job at UCSD Thornton Hospital by working an additional 30 hours a week doing custodial work for Pomerado Hospital at $13.45 an hour. His wife, a custodian at Thornton, also works two jobs.


ANGELA J. CESERE / Union-Tribune
Front desk registration worker Daphne Darby (left) and patient-care worker Rebecca Thomas led other union workers in a protest yesterday at UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest. Hundreds of University of California San Diego service workers began picketing yesterday.


“It's hard on the marriage,” Rucinski said. “And (UC) can pay more for the work we do.”

UC system officials say they have proposed increasing the minimum hourly rates from $10.28 to $11.50 or $12, depending on the location. At UCSD, it would be $11.50. Also proposed is $2.6 million to go toward other salary increases systemwide, a university spokeswoman said.

FULL story at link.

The amount of money the Rucinskis make should provide enough. I'm just saying...

It was in yesterday's story on the LBN forum. Yes Ca. is very expensive. Story and video at link.

University of California Service Workers Strike to End Poverty Wages: http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/07/14/university-of-california-service-workers-strike-to-end-poverty-wages/

:hi: