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Students and Workers (Re)United for Justice!
On October 18th, AFSCME workers and students at UC Santa Cruz held a rally in the Baytree Plaza and then marched to the base of campus calling on UC President Dynes to release funds promised by the California Legislature to low-paid UC workers. AFSCME workers and students are also demanding wages comparable to those of neighboring colleges and universities where people are paid up to 30% more for doing the same amount or less work.
At the base of campus, people immediately marched into the center of the Bay and High intersection. Then everyone crossed the streets at the same time, though allowing cars to pass through without much delay. Since the police and Santa Cruz Metro began re-directing traffic away from the base of campus, people decided to use the opportunity to rally in the middle of the main entrance to campus. This was the first action this school year in ongoing struggle where students and workers are united in demanding social justice at UC Santa Cruz.
At the base of campus, people immediately marched into the center of the Bay and High intersection. Then everyone crossed the streets at the same time, though allowing cars to pass through without much delay. Since the police and Santa Cruz Metro began re-directing traffic away from the base of campus, people decided to use the opportunity to rally in the middle of the main entrance to campus. This was the first action this school year in ongoing struggle where students and workers are united in demanding social justice at UC Santa Cruz.
In response to signs saying "Custodians Deserve Market Level Wages" Dana Frank (above) aserted that workers should have control and not allow 'the market' to determine their wages. Dana is a professor and graduate program director in the History department at UCSC.
For more photos and information, please see:
AFSCME and Friends March for Wage Parity, Justice
http://indybay.org/newsitems/2006/10/20/18322067.php
For more photos and information, please see:
AFSCME and Friends March for Wage Parity, Justice
http://indybay.org/newsitems/2006/10/20/18322067.php
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I just wanted to point that out. It makes no sense to call on UC to match the wages of what other low-paid workers are making in the same types of jobs and then call this a rejection of the market.
I'd be curious to hear what the going rates are for various positions on campus and how that, when multiplied by a full work-year, compares with the federal poverty level. At my home university some of the poorest-paid workers were making less than $18K for full-time jobs and could not swing it without holding down multiple jobs.
I'd be curious to hear what the going rates are for various positions on campus and how that, when multiplied by a full work-year, compares with the federal poverty level. At my home university some of the poorest-paid workers were making less than $18K for full-time jobs and could not swing it without holding down multiple jobs.
Jamie Bronstein wrote:
"Calling for wage "parity" explicitly IS invoking the market. I just wanted to point that out."
Jamie, it was pointed out in the article when it said:
"In response to signs saying "Custodians Deserve Market Level Wages" Dana Frank asserted that workers should have control and not allow 'the market' to determine their wages. Dana is a professor and graduate program director in the History department at UCSC."
Dana Frank is saying that workers need to assert control of their work environment and not allow the market (wage parity) to determine their wages. However, demanding wage parity right now is a way to clearly illustrate the exploitive conditions suffered by UCSC workers at the whim of the University. UCSC could pay may. Cabrillo College and California State University at Monterey Bay have better pay rates for workers performing similar tasks. There is a budget PRIORITIES crisis in the UC system.
"Calling for wage "parity" explicitly IS invoking the market. I just wanted to point that out."
Jamie, it was pointed out in the article when it said:
"In response to signs saying "Custodians Deserve Market Level Wages" Dana Frank asserted that workers should have control and not allow 'the market' to determine their wages. Dana is a professor and graduate program director in the History department at UCSC."
Dana Frank is saying that workers need to assert control of their work environment and not allow the market (wage parity) to determine their wages. However, demanding wage parity right now is a way to clearly illustrate the exploitive conditions suffered by UCSC workers at the whim of the University. UCSC could pay may. Cabrillo College and California State University at Monterey Bay have better pay rates for workers performing similar tasks. There is a budget PRIORITIES crisis in the UC system.
The professors around here are pretty well paid. Can they really relate?
Their primary concern is now developing profitable inventions: Dean Kliger said as much in an interview a year ago. The University is being taken over by corporate interests who don't give a damn about scientific integrity or decent wages - that's why Kliger was promoted from his previous position as Dean of Chemistry (a rotten department if there ever was one!).
This is all coming down from the UC Regents, of course - but they have plenty of allies at UCSC. That's the central reason why people are upset about the Regents.
This is all coming down from the UC Regents, of course - but they have plenty of allies at UCSC. That's the central reason why people are upset about the Regents.
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