Vol. 73/No. 39      October 12, 2009

That same day there were protests on campuses throughout the University of California (UC) system, including rallies of more than 500 here at UC Davis and at UCLA and UC Irvine, as well as at Cal State San Francisco and City College of San Francisco.

In July, in the wake of a $813 million cut in state funding for the university, the Board of Regents declared a state of emergency and approved furlough days for all workers, staff, and faculty, pay reductions of between 4 percent and 10 percent, and cuts in courses and services. Also projected is an increase in next year’s tuition to more than $10,000, a 45 percent increase over last year’s fees.

“Education should be free, No cuts, No fees!” demonstrators shouted at UC Berkeley as the massive rally turned into a march through the campus and then through downtown streets.

Prominent at the protests were picket signs carried by campus workers who are members of Local 9119 of the University Professional and Technical Employees-Communications Workers of America (UPTE-CWA). It was this union’s call for a one-day strike on September 24 that spurred UC faculty and students to call for a UC system-wide walkout in solidarity with the union strikers and against the cuts.

Unlike UC Berkeley, where school has been in session for several weeks, September 24 was the first day of school at most UC campuses. At UC Davis, despite organizers having to scramble to get out the word to newly arriving students, more than 700 students, faculty, and workers turned out for a spirited rally and march through the campus.

José Ballesteros, a graduate student, was worried about the debts being accumulated by students, debts he says will take years to pay off. He also pointed to the insistence by the university administration that the faculty furloughs be taken on noninstructional days. “By doing this they hope to make the cuts invisible to the students,” he said.

“If I had wanted to go to a private university, I would have been born rich,” said one of many signs carried by protesters, pointing out how working-class students are hardest hit by the cuts.

Jonathen Duran, one of the student speakers at the rally, emphasized that students from immigrant families are particularly affected. He said that many of his friends have already dropped out because they could not afford the tuition.

Fueling the anger of protesters was the decision by the regents to award 30 percent salary increases to a dozen university executives at the same meeting where tuition raises were announced. “Chop from the top!” was seen on many picket signs.

Local 9119, which includes computer workers, research aides, and laboratory technicians, has been bargaining for 18 months with no progress toward a contract. “We had to do something since they are not negotiating with our union, or addressing any of our issues,” said Carlos de la Cruz, who fixes microscopes for science laboratories at UC Davis. “We are not keeping up with the cost of living. I have two jobs and I can’t keep up.”

Green-shirted members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which includes janitorial, grounds, and other workers at UC Davis, picketed alongside UPTE workers at entrances to the UC Davis campus.  
 
 
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