Ruskin, Ma, Davis Cancel UC Commencement Speeches

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Sanjay Garla, AFSCME 3299, 415-747-2328

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Assemblymembers Ira Ruskin, Fiona Ma, Professor Angela Davis Cancel UC Commencement Speeches, Join Low–Wage UC Workers to Honor Graduation Speakers Boycott.

Santa Cruz, CA – Calling attention to the human toll taken by a University of California (UC) administration that is out of touch with its students and the low-wage workers that keep the university running, a speakers’ graduation boycott will take place at UC Santa Cruz in the coming days.

Assemblymember Ira Ruskin (D-Redwood City), Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), and retired UCSC professor Angela Davis are the latest civic leaders who have pledged to honor the speakers boycott until the workers and the administration resolve issues concerning layoffs and reduced hours.

“I am honored that I was asked to speak to graduating students at UC Santa Cruz, but I believe it’s important to stand in solidarity with the AFSCME workers and their families,” said Assemblymember Ira Ruskin.

Organizers of the boycott say the action is necessary because of UC administrators’ continued insistence on giving out executive increases while cutting student services through layoffs and reductions in hours for front line workers. On the UC Santa Cruz campus, low-wage service workers such as custodians and food service workers are receiving a 4-6% reduction in hours. Skilled workers such as carpenters, electricians, and plumbers are receiving a 20% cut in hours. According to the University administration’s own estimates, cuts to low-wage workers saves $7 million in expenses. During this same period of time, UC executives have received over $9 million in increases.

AFSCME 3299 has called on commencement speakers to boycott nine UC campuses. Last week, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove, CA) announced she would not speak at UC Riverside as planned.  Author Karen Joy Fowler, State Senator Gloria Romero, Asm. Warren Furutani, and Asm. Jose Solorio have also canceled commencement speeches at various UC campuses over the past two weeks.

“With the cuts in my hours, it has become increasingly difficult to provide for my four kids.  I find myself struggling to pay my rent, electricity bill and buy food for my family," said Martha Aguado, UC Santa Cruz Food Service Worker.

“These cuts have been devastating for low-wage workers,” said Lakesha Harrison, president of AFSCME 3299, “Layoffs and reduction in hours are only the tip of the iceberg. UC executives are now proposing massive cuts to our retirement. We may be facing a double whammy – a depletion of our savings now and a gutting of the income we were counting on for our future.”

###

AFSCME 3299 represents over 20,000 University of California service
and patient care workers

« Back