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Workers and Students Shutdown UCSC during Statewide ULP Strike
Students and workers at UC Santa Cruz blocked both entrances and shut the campus down in support of a University of California-wide unfair labor practices strike on November 20, called for by AFSCME 3299. [Top video: compilation of clips from the blockade of the west entrance of UCSC and the march down to the main entrance of campus. Scroll down to view photos.]
According to a statement released by AFSCME 3299, the Unfair Labor Practices strike was called in response to a, "coordinated campaign of illegal intimidation, coercion, and threats," against UC Patient Care and Service Workers who participated in a walk out in May over unsafe staffing levels at UC supported hospitals.
Workers on all UC Campuses and Medical Centers statewide participated in the strike.
Workers represented by AFSCME include custodians, food service workers, cooks, bus drivers, licensed vocational nurses, nursing assistants, medical assistants, and techs.
Joining AFSCME on the picket line in Santa Cruz were members of UAW Local 2865, the union that represents student academic workers, as well as a variety of student groups, which included Autonomous Students UCSC and MEchA de UCSC.
Those living in on campus family housing were allowed to enter the university during the strike. Emergency vehicles were also allowed to enter, but unlike previous campus shutdowns, the police were prevented from driving through, and according to demonstrators were turned away at least once.
After a 12+ hour blockade in the rain, those blocking the west entrance marched down Empire Grade to the base of campus for a final rally.
For more information about AFSCME 3299, see:
http://www.afscme3299.org/
For more information about the UC Student-Workers Union, Local 2865, see:
http://www.uaw2865.org/
For more information about Autonomous Students UCSC, see:
https://www.facebook.com/AutonomousStudentsUCSC
Alex Darocy
http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/
Workers on all UC Campuses and Medical Centers statewide participated in the strike.
Workers represented by AFSCME include custodians, food service workers, cooks, bus drivers, licensed vocational nurses, nursing assistants, medical assistants, and techs.
Joining AFSCME on the picket line in Santa Cruz were members of UAW Local 2865, the union that represents student academic workers, as well as a variety of student groups, which included Autonomous Students UCSC and MEchA de UCSC.
Those living in on campus family housing were allowed to enter the university during the strike. Emergency vehicles were also allowed to enter, but unlike previous campus shutdowns, the police were prevented from driving through, and according to demonstrators were turned away at least once.
After a 12+ hour blockade in the rain, those blocking the west entrance marched down Empire Grade to the base of campus for a final rally.
For more information about AFSCME 3299, see:
http://www.afscme3299.org/
For more information about the UC Student-Workers Union, Local 2865, see:
http://www.uaw2865.org/
For more information about Autonomous Students UCSC, see:
https://www.facebook.com/AutonomousStudentsUCSC
Alex Darocy
http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/
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Are the admins hiding out in the trees observing the strike yet? What about the cops, they call up reserves with pepper spray just to be sure that the people who are basically teaching up at the U don't get out of control and exercise too many of their rights?
If a UCSC strike is to succeed, it must be intense, prolonged and sustained.
These one or two day strikes won't win this struggle. I seriously advise UCSC workers and students to study and learn from the Quebec student strike which toppled a Canadian provincial government.
Read about them here:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jun/01/quebec-protests-student-activists
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/sep/07/quebec-students-lesson-protest-politics
These one or two day strikes won't win this struggle. I seriously advise UCSC workers and students to study and learn from the Quebec student strike which toppled a Canadian provincial government.
Read about them here:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jun/01/quebec-protests-student-activists
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/sep/07/quebec-students-lesson-protest-politics
I received my B.A. ('87) and my Ph.D. ('07) from UCSC — before its major decline — in computer science. As I finished my Ph.D., one could already see the beginnings of the campaign to rip the guts out of a once great university system (admired throughout the world).
I was appalled at the exploitation I saw of student and non-student workers. I also saw UC's repressive attempts to shutdown a nascent student movement in reaction to this and other forms of UC repression. I was shocked when my advisor called student protestors hooligans and stated the university is not a democracy. That runs against my principles of open, transparent, accountable government — the UC is sorely lacking in all three of these.
I urge students and non-student UC workers to join my Facebook page linked to below:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/OpenTransparentAccountableGovernment/
I offer my services as an experienced, effective Freedom of Information (FOI) investigator to submit FOI requests for AFSCME 3299 to the UC (if you will pay the minuscule fees if any). Most often I am able to obtain documents in electronic form, making my requests almost completely free.
I look forward to helping AFSCME 3299 in your struggle for social justice and economic equality.
In solidarity,
John E. Colby, Ph.D. (UCSC computer science '07)
linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/john-colby/3/920/baa
twitter: @jecolbe
I was appalled at the exploitation I saw of student and non-student workers. I also saw UC's repressive attempts to shutdown a nascent student movement in reaction to this and other forms of UC repression. I was shocked when my advisor called student protestors hooligans and stated the university is not a democracy. That runs against my principles of open, transparent, accountable government — the UC is sorely lacking in all three of these.
I urge students and non-student UC workers to join my Facebook page linked to below:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/OpenTransparentAccountableGovernment/
I offer my services as an experienced, effective Freedom of Information (FOI) investigator to submit FOI requests for AFSCME 3299 to the UC (if you will pay the minuscule fees if any). Most often I am able to obtain documents in electronic form, making my requests almost completely free.
I look forward to helping AFSCME 3299 in your struggle for social justice and economic equality.
In solidarity,
John E. Colby, Ph.D. (UCSC computer science '07)
linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/john-colby/3/920/baa
twitter: @jecolbe
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