Politicians Refuse to Cross Picket Line
By Emily Rutherford - Jun 15th, 2008 at 1:39 pmService workers at the University of California campuses, members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, are currently in the midst of a contract dispute. The Los Angeles Times reported Friday that AFSCME asked several prominent figures who were scheduled to speak at U.C. commencements to cancel their appointments. Impressively, many did, citing in no uncertain terms their unwillingness to cross picket lines (even though the union is not officially on strike):
“I am disappointed that I will not be able to be a commencement speaker, but I won’t cross the picket line,” said [retired Army Gen. Wesley K.] Clark, a onetime Democratic presidential candidate who was scheduled to speak at UCLA. “The students who are graduating, along with their parents who support them, should be congratulated on their achievement. My hope is this will come to a resolution very soon.”
…
“Until the University of California and the 20,000 patient care and service workers resolve their dispute, I won’t be able to speak at the commencement ceremony for the UCLA School of Public Health,” [Democratic Rep. Henry A.] Waxman said in a statement released by the union.
Another speaker who canceled was Bill Clinton, which almost alleviates my irritation over his behavior during his wife’s presidential campaign (almost). If the dispute isn’t resolved, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will also cancel. These folks deserve credit for taking a principled stand on a labor issue.
Fabian Nunez was supposed to cancel too! The UC has it’s priorities all messed up!!!!!!!
June 15th, 2008 at 4:38 pm[...] Posted by Jamelle under politics | Tags: bill clinton, labor, striking, wesley clark | Props to Wesley Clark and Bill Clinton for standing in solidarity with striking service workers at various University of California [...]
June 15th, 2008 at 5:49 pm