On February 23 UC Santa Cruz chancellor MRC Greenwood was promoted to Provost - the second highest position next to President. As provost, Greenwood receives an annual pay increase of $110,000, bringing her total salary to $380,000. Higher and higher salaries for UC administrators is a growing trend, while student tuitions also increase. At the same time, UCSC's clerical and custodial employees, already understaffed, are burdened with an expanding workload, as the campus grows.

In light of budget shortfalls, University Labor United, a coalition of campus unions at UCSC have demanded Greenwood turn down the raise. As invited guests and friends of Greenwood attended her farewell gala at the Coconut Grove on, June 3, a coalition of unions students, and community members came out to protest.

Free Radio Santa Cruz reporter Emily Hell was on scene to provide live coverage on Rockin' the Boat.

Audio: [ Listen to the Stream or Download the mp3 ]

On March 27, 2004 about 500 Santa Cruzans came together to protest next year’s proposed budget. Projected county budget cuts attempt to compensate for a loss of 7.5 million state dollars by cutting 118 jobs, 80 of which are from the human and health services departments. This lopsided allocation of funds will directly affect programs like Medical, Foods Stamps, In Home Services, and Public Health Nurses. Organizers called for more equitable distribution of available funds.


Santa Cruz County budget hearings will be held June 15 – 25 at 9AM on the fifth floor of the county building and are open to the public.



Audio: Workers Independent News Service (WINS) coverage

In Home Services Slated for Cuts

Thousands of UC hospital and campus employees concerned about quality at UC launched a series of statewide marches on Thursday, May 20 to demand meetings with top UC officials.

Workers at each campus and their supporters confronted UC executives, demanding immediate action to protect quality and service at America’s premier public university system and its academic medical centers from budget cuts and managements’ misplaced priorities.

Staffing shortages and high turnover rates in radiology and other hospital departments and the increasing use of temporary personnel in the medical centers threaten the quality of patient care at UC medical centers at UCSF, UCLA, UCSD, UCI and UC Davis. On the campuses, inadequate staffing leads to decreased services for students and at times, to costly overtime pay.

UC Santa Cruz
Noon
Quarry Plaza in front of Baytree Bookstore

Photos: [ 1 - 2 - 3 ]
Audio: Workers Independent News Service (WINS) coverage

The 3rd Annual May Day Labor Film Festival, titled "Reel Work", will be from April 25th to May 1st in celebration of International Workers' Day. The purpose of the festival is to increase community awareness of the history and culture of the U.S. and international labor movement. Filmmakers, producers, labor historians and union organizers featured in the films will be present to introduce films and lead discussion.

Topics include the recent FTAA protests in Miami, the multiracial grassroots movement of the L.A. Bus Riders Union, the organizing efforts of garment workers in sweatshops in Thailand and Bangladesh, and flower nursery workers in Colombia. Films range from classics such as Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times and At the River I Stand, to local premieres about the recent Safeway strike and the Oakland docks anti-war protest of last April.

Reel Work: May Day Labor Film Festival

[ Sunday, A25 at 12pm I Sunday, A25 at 7pm I Monday, A26 at 7pm I Tuesday, A27 at 7pm I Wednesday, A28 at 7pm I Thursday, A29 at 7pm I Friday, April 30 at 7pm I Saturday, May 1 at 1pm ]

On March 28, several thousands of people from across the central coast rallied at the Cesar Chavez Community Park in Salinas to celebrate the legacy of Cesar Chavez. A couple thousand people marched through the streets in a high-spirited demonstration of unity. The support from community members observinging the march was tremendous. The goal of the annual event is to spread awareness among young people and Chavez's messages on social justice and nonviolence.

Arturo Rodriguez, the president of the United Farm Workers, spoke with eloquence about the life of Caser Chavez, the improved conditions for farmworkers since UFW began organizing, and the current campaigns that the UFW are working on.

Photos: [ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 ]

Audio: Rockin' the Boat: Farmworkers March to Remember Cesar Chavez

Indybay coverage of S.F. and Fresno demonstrations

Reverend jesse jackson and his rainbow coalition arrived in New Orleans with hundreds of hurricane survivors hoping to find work and housing. Mama D was there to meet them, among others who attended their press conference at Piccadilly's restaurant. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was there promising a "living wage" for everyone saying, "the days of minimum wage are over." Job recruiters from McDonalds, Burger King, UPS, and other minimum-wage employers were there to hand out applications. there were also residents with signs demonstrating for their housing rights.

I am putting together a film about the April 14th AFSCME strike in Santa Cruz and am currently looking for additional footage.
If you have any video footage (preferably MiniDV format) of the strike please contact me and we can arrange a way to exchange the footage.
Please contact me at ksgleason (at) sbcglobal.net
In Solidarity
Kyle

Santa Cruz hasn't gotten a Wal-Mart yet and I hope they never will. I would like to see more cooperatives. Who wants to start one?

The students marched from the base of UCSC campus to the downtown metro center. These audio clips are speakers and interviews from the rally after the march at the downtown metro center.
PLUS!!!
Tom Honig, editor in cheif of the SC SENILE confronted by students and workers in front of the Sentinel offices.