Candlelight Vigil to End Poverty Wages at UC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nicolas Guiterrez (831) 588-9291

Who: University of California Service Workers, religious leaders and community supporters.

What: Candlelight Vigil to call on the University of California
leadership to put an end to the poverty wages they pay their
service employees

When: Friday, October 24, 2008
6:30PM

Where: During the UCSC Founders Day Gala Event
Coconut Grove
400 Beach Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060


Why: After more than a year of negotiations and a five day strike, struggling service workers who cook, clean, maintain and secure the University of California for students and patients are still pushing UC executives to put an end to poverty wages at UC. Earlier this week, UC executives agreed to a fair contract for 11,500 UC patient care workers that includes a fair pay system and family supporting wages after a year of working without a contract.

The remaining 8,500 service workers are struggling everyday to survive on UC's low wages. Currently the UC System pays such a low wage to their Service Employees that 96% of them are income eligible for at least one form of public assistance. Skyrocketing gas and food prices are creating a further crisis for these thousands of UC workers and their families that are already living paycheck to paycheck.

UC service worker's wages are dramatically lower than other hospitals and California's community colleges, which pay on average 25% less. In addition, UC executives insist on passing on benefits costs to workers, driving families even further into poverty.

The purpose of the Vigil is to call up on the leadership of the University to ends poverty wages immediately through a fair and just contract. For further information on the this issue, please visit
http://www.facingpovertyatuc.org


AFSCME Local 3299 represents 20,000 plus University of California employees at all ten campuses and five medical centers. The job classifications of these workers include, but are not limited to: Licensed Vocational Nurse, Respiratory Therapist, Phlebotomists, Custodial Worker, Food Service Worker, and Security Officers.