Across the state, UPTE-CWA members have been joining students, other staff and faculty to protest the lack of funds for higher education and public services in general. On November 9, UPTE members came out at every campus. On November 16 in Southern California, we went to the CSU Trustees’ meeting where they voted to increase student fees yet again. In Northern California, the UC Regents cancelled their meeting to avoid the public outcry they knew was coming. UC activists redirected our activities with a march through downtown San Francisco that day, ending up at Bank of America, on whose board one of the regents sits.
We also attended the rescheduled meeting last Monday, which was held by “teleconference” on 4 campuses. Our message: tax the wealthy and corporations to balance the state budget. Don’t cut education and public services. Among other things, the regents gave raises to several executives. Here’s a roundup of Monday’s events from KPFA News Radio.
You can add your voice by signing the Defend California public education petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/open-letter-defend-ca-public-education.
UC and CSU administrators have responded with police violence and intimidation at several campuses, including a confrontation at UC Davis where students were pepper-sprayed with no cause. UPTE-CWA is joining with students and staff to demand that the chancellor and all involved police be held accountable.
We reached our first goal on administrative professional authorization cards before Thanksgiving. Many of the first to sign were our long-term supporters. Now comes the harder work of talking to those we have not yet been approached and having them sign an authorization card for UPTE-CWA. No one can do this better than you, the zone contacts and principal voice of UPTE-CWA in the workplace. Contact your UPTE staff member to let them know you can talk to APs in your area. You will get a list, literature and training.
UPTE-CWA’s health and safety director Joan Lichterman discovered that UC Irvine was petitioning the state standards board for permission to violate the safe airflow standards for fume hoods. After notifying all the affected unions and coordinating a protest to the board, we succeeded in having the hearing where the decision would have been made postponed. We will be working with health and safety experts to evaluate UC’s proposal, as well as asking for input from all UPTE-CWA members working in UC Irvine’s laboratories.
Last issue's winner was Jessica Wang-Cheng of .
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