Davis addresses workers' rights, financial aid at UCLA
By Edward Chiao
Aug. 25, 2002 9:00 p.m.
Gov. Gray Davis took his re-election campaign to UCLA on Tuesday
afternoon to speak at a union-sponsored rally in support of
workers’ rights at UCLA and across the state.
Davis met with employees of the Associated Students of UCLA in
LuValle Commons and De Neve Plaza, speaking to over a hundred local
union members and employees affiliated with the American Federation
of State, County, and Municipal Employees.
The governor was greeted with cheers of “Four more
years!” and “Si se puede (Yes you can)!” at both
locations.
“I’m proud that over the last four years,
we’ve been able to take a number of “˜casual’
workers ““ people who did not have a great wage, no benefits
““ and work hard to make sure they are now full-time employees
of the university,” Davis said.
Davis, who touts himself as the “working
people’s” governor, supported a contract that gave
about 80 non-student ASUCLA employees full-time status with
increased wages and employee health and retirement benefits.
“I work for all of you,” he continued. “I want
everyone to move forward together.”
Davis also pointed to his track record as a proponent of
workers’ rights, which includes restoring eight-hour work
days with paid overtime, and two increases in the minimum wage
during his four years as governor.
“I know he will continue to work … to help us move
forward and to help us get decent wages and employee
benefits,” said Lakesha Harrison, president of the Local 3299
AFSCME Union.
While many employees were happy to simply meet with Davis, some
took the opportunity to talk to him about other problems workers
still face.
“I told him we want his support for more respect from the
managers,” said Alexander Salvador, an assistant cook who
spoke briefly with the governor.
Davis assured the crowd that he is on the working class’
side.
“Everywhere I go I see people who are working hard to
raise their families, pay their taxes, to put in a full day.
They’re good citizens, they’re good people. And we want
to treat every human being with dignity and respect,” he
said.
While Davis did not comment on the progress of the state budget,
or his position on a controversial farm bill, he took the
opportunity to talk about other issues dealing with the state,
which include the economy, healthcare and Cal Grants.
He claimed to have given 300,000 scholarships “which
didn’t exist before,” including 192,000 Cal Grant
scholarships for financially eligible students with a
“B” average and 106,000 scholarships for students in
the top 10 percent of their classes, regardless of financial
status.
One person to benefit from Cal Grants is Diana Martinez, a
second-year student who graduated in the top 10 percent of her
class.
“(The scholarship) is great. It helps you concentrate more
on your GPA and you can participate in more activities instead of
working,” she said.
Martinez also took the opportunity to thank the governor for
initiating the Cal Grants and keeping student fees low.
