Profile for Jewstice - In support of the UC strike!

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Jewstice aka has been a member since September 3, 2006, has scored 494 submissions, giving an average score of 1.88.

Jul 14 '08 by Jewstice

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In support of the UC strike!

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?

g3rpander on Jul 14 '08 at 2:26pm

I'd like to see this

But it's unlikely it'll happen.

tracerbullet on Jul 14 '08 at 2:29pm

i agree that they deserve better wages, but if this strike is going to negatively impact hospital patients then i think that's a terrible thing.

Jewstice on Jul 14 '08 at 3:39pm

I think that you should be able to strike regardless of job title/status. The police for example, cannot strike anymore as it is against the law. While the police may not be my favorite people in the world, I still support their right to strike in order to gain the wages/benefits that they are entitled to. The laws and court decisions that attempt to prevent strikes from happening only give more power to the bosses and take power away from the few unions that are still active.

If UC doesn't want patients to be affected by the strike, they should give the employees what they demand.

tracerbullet on Jul 14 '08 at 3:43pm

true, but at the same time nurses and doctors have a responsibility to care for their patients.

it's a catch-22 situation.