SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday urged striking University of California service workers from Sacramento and elsewehre around the state to return to the bargaining table in the name of maintaining public safety.
The strike began at 5 a.m. Monday, with many employees hitting a picket line in front of UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento's Oak Park. The protest is impacting all 10 UC campuses and five medical centers statewide and is expected to last five days, four days longer than a similar strike more than three years ago. About 8,500 employees statewide are expected to take part, with 460 workers walking off the job in Sacramento. The striking workers include custodians, hospital workers, food preparers, groundskeepers, security guards, medical technicians and some nurses. "Public safety is my No. 1 priority and this strike could affect the health and well being of many people who rely on the critical services provided by medical support staff,” Schwarzenegger said in a prepared statment. "While there may be legitimate issues to be resolved, it is unacceptable to use the welfare of innocent people as a bargaining chip." The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 3299, which represents the workers, said wages are a primary concern, adding that 96 percent of workers currently qualify for welfare benefits. The university, however, argues that it cannot pay more given the current state budget crunch and tough economic times. Workers said it was not an easy decision to walk out. "Most of us make poverty wages," said Diamond Robertson, one of the workers on strike. "A lot of us qualify for welfare and we work full-time jobs. It's unfair." Judie Boehmer, spokeswoman for the medical center, said the strike is illegal and participating workers will likely face discipline. The university said it has a contingency plan in place that calls for managers to step in to do the jobs of striking employees. In April of 2005, about 7,000 services workers hit the picket lines. At that time, whcy said they pay was less than workers at similar facilities. I know that I'm in support of the workers and think they deserve better wages than $10 an hour, which is certainly not a living wage. How do you feel on the matter?
You must be logged in to leave a comment.
|
      
Email: steve.frauenfeld@gmail.com
Learn German Language new EtsyNameSpace.Mini(5036707, 'shop','thumbnail',4,1).renderIframe(); Jewstice's gangsta rap courtesy of Jackanapes: my name is (what?) my name is (what?) my name is (what?) my name is JEWSTICE! don't try to fuck with me, it's useless. all you other fucking ganders will be goose-less like that faggy dragon from narnia-- what's his name?-- EUSTICE! i get so much tang my dick is juiceless. but then i eat a lot of protein and it gets boostice. my balls are never ever bluestice. cause my name is fucking JEWSTICE (what?) jewstice (what?) jewstice (what?) motherfucker it's JEWSTICE. fuck all y'all bitches up in herez.   I have the worst game ever towards girls, if I mutter a word i come off as a child molester, if I walk away without talking to them they still whisper "oh my god is that child molester?" -Shoe Salesman |
© 2009, a skinnyCorp LLC company. All designs copyright by owner.
Jul 14 '08 by
But it's unlikely it'll happen.