Workers rally to improve UC contract, increase pay

  CATHERINE JUN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Union members
picket outside the Neuropsychiatric Institute to demand a new
contract for better wages and benefits.

By Shauna Mecartea
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

More than 150 union members rallied in front of the
Neuropsychiatric Institute Thursday to fight for a better contract
from the University of California.

Members from the American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees union came from all over the state to picket in
the heat, holding signs and bullhorns.

Most of the attendees work in the UCLA Medical Center and the
Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center.

“We want to have a fair contract with the UC
system,” said Maxine Holloway, a lead John Wooden Center
custodian and 32-year AFSCME member. “We want a
voice.”

Better wages and benefits, a voice in staffing and health and
safety issues regarding employees, and more respect from
contractors are on their list of demands for the new contract.

According to AFSCME organizer Grant Lindsay, negotiations with
the UC management are underway.

UC officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Lead AFSCME organizer J.R. Hernandez said the contract is up for
renewal every three or four years.

Holloway said this is the first year AFSCME has had enough
members to actually change their contract.

Picketers circled with signs that read “UC is unfair to
workers and patients” and chanted, “Show us respect,
put it in the check,” as sweat dribbled down their
cheeks.

Participants formed a circle and started chanting “Si se
puede” ““ Spanish for “Yes, we can” ““
and surrounded a university chaplain who led a prayer.

Rev. Winnie Varghese, episcopal chaplain, addressed the Sept. 11
attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, recognizing the
AFSCME members who were directly and indirectly affected. She also
asked for a moment of silence.