Facing Poverty At UC

[MegaMailbox]

why did see decide to have kids if, she couldent take care of her self

[airjor1]

Take a visit to a UC Hospital and College and then you can make a proper assessment. Knowledge is power!

[LatoyaShanequa]

Well I see the whiners got a big raise. Good for them. Now all the state workers have to take furloughs and the state and city budgets are in crisis. How has AFSCME helped the economy? Maybe AFSCME should offer some free English as a second language classes and encourage members to be supportive of their employers in a fiscal crisis than have a take take take attitude. I believe in giving people good pay but for goodness sake stop your freaking whining.

[Ballen6721]

I think that the management is able to intimidate the union and this is the primary reason the workers are in poverty. Get online to AFL-CIO and watch the video for Free Choice Act. Everybody can do better if we stick together for a common good. As the Constitution stated the government formed "will promote the well being of it's people." I just see a few being promoted. I see execs from AIG asking me and you to pay them $50,000,000 or they will walk. So my question is who is corrupt?

[uclav]

Shame on the UC system!!! I am a graduate of UCLA and strongly disapprove of the UC system's treatment of its services workers and employees. And please, let's stop with the racist comments. Disgusting!!!

[madcatzy]

ask one question; would these immegrants earn more in their native land? NO! so they are better of afther all....

[khaascp]

Our wages at UC are at poverty level. There are many who have had to get food stamps to feed their families. The government does not give food stamps to those who do not qualify. Where I work our supervisor has helped out with providing food from her own garden. I myself have had food given to me from other co-workers. I have been to college and I am not a service worker but a patient care worker AFSCME Union member. I am white,born in United States and I love working for the University.

[airjor1]

I work at the University of California Davis Medical Center for over a decade. It seems to me, that the UC system doesn't have a problem increasing the Parking fees, co-payment and premiums for Medical, Dental, and Vision, but can't give the service workers a substantial cost of living increase, a salary wage step promotion, and a comparable entry salary wage like most colleges, and hospitals in California. It's a damn shame.

[dcor916]

These people arent taking responsibility for themselves. They also need to learn to speak english. They should be greatful they have a job. If they want to be payed better go to school!!! they get payed way more at UC than at mcdonalds. They also don't mention how UC pays for 100% of there medical. I dont know any fast food that does that. Be greatful for what you have!!

[airjor1]

First of all, the UC system doesn't pay 100% for medical care. We have to pay co-payments for medical, dental, and vision. What does speaking english have to do with doing their job? maybe more people need to learn to speak spanish. And some people don't want to go to school, and going to school doesn't always guarantee a good paying job. And are taking responsiblity by working hard at low paying job. UC should be fair and pay them what they deserve. You should do some research.

[djmixnmagic]

UC doesn't pay for 100% of medical, but a few years ago, it adopted salary bands for premiums, where if you made less money, you paid less in premiums.

You are correct--these people make good wages relative to what they do. And many of them barely speak English. Trying to frame them as victims of poverty with such a propagandistic video replete with the sobbing strings, is not only short-sighted, but inaccurate.

[MillieLein123]

oaktownaaron, many workers at UC HAVE GONE to at least some college. I personally know some workers at UC who have Associates Degrees, and some Cal State experience, but simply cannot find more lucrative employment with benefits - benefits that are an absolute necessity for workers with children!

[airjor1]

I feel that AFSCME 3299 union is corrupt and doesn't have the interest of the service workers. All of the significant decisions and issues that have accured over the years, have benefited the UC system. The best decision for the service workers to do, is to vote out and replace AFSCME.

[LatoyaShanequa]

This is the biggest sob story ever.

[LatoyaShanequa]

Nancyfair needs to think about ethnostupidity. You are the once practicing ethnocentricity and holding people down. It makes no sense to have a bunch of kids that you cant aford, move to a foreign country and not learn the language and then whine about how little you get paid. The message should be to go to school, learn the language, and get out of the hood. Not expect handouts and pity. This is what is holding these people down. Like I said, I got out because I worked hard and went to school.

[airjor1]

Why don't you get a life you ugly old racist. You probably don't work at a U.C. campus, so you don't know what your talking about. The minority of people that you are talking about, are born here in the United States. Try reading a book, and get your facts straight.

[LatoyaShanequa]

Your are an intellectual. I can see that by your first sentence. Moronic aren't you?

[airjor1]

First of all, are you an employee of the University of California? If not, maybe you should do some research about the University and the service unit before you espouse your silly comments.  It appears to me that you are a narrow minded ignorant racist, and you feel its alright that individuals be discriminated against because of their color and culture. You need to grow up! and crawl back under that rock you came from under.

[portajohn15]

With all the money rolling in for nuclear and pharmaceutical research, there should be plenty of money in the system to provide a decent standard of living for all UC employees. Without students and workers, the UC is nothing.

UC workers deserve better, and we can do better!

Solidarity,

concerned graduate student

UCI Department of Sociology

UAW Local 2865 Academic Student Employees

[RLF777]

Interesting Video~

[airjor1]

I feel that the AFSCME 3299 should of addressed the pay and benefit issue with the UC system years ago. I work at the University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, Ca. When I started over ten years ago, the union was very weak, but did get stronger up to this point, but I still feel that they side with management on many issues, which give the UC system the upper hand in keeping the pay and benefit package inadequate. President Yudof must take a stand in order for change.

[IbBVD]

Even during this strike Kronheim of HR claimed there was no money...WE all know they have the money and the Arbitrator provided amicable means to settle. This is not about the money. It is now personal and they seem to think they're above us savoring that someone is worse. They forget we have supported them while they climbed the ladders. Now we ask for support and they snub their noses again. Coming from people of higher education and learning, they seem to have failed miserably!

[oaktownaaron]

Maybe these people should have chosen to *go* to a UC school rather than to *work* for UC. The CA Master Plan is among the most generous in the world- you can GET PAID to go to a junior college and transfer to a UC campus w/ generous grants/scholarships, trust me.  Do your homework and stop whining.

[nancyfair]

third, do you even realize how much money the administration makes? in 2006, the chancellor of uc berkeley made $412,000 a year. that is more PER MONTH than the people in this video make in an entire year. who are you to say that the work these higher administrators are doing is really that much more difficult than pulling weeds and scrubbing floors? i am not sure why you feel so much hostility toward these low paid workers but i think you need to re-evaluate where your loyalty lies.

[IrishbadBoy81]

Are you serious? Maybe you need to go back to school yourself. How can you compair pulling weeds and scrubbing floors to running a hospital? Have you tried to run a multi-million dollar company and make sure that it doesnt go belly-up? Loyalties have nothing to do with this issue, it is a matter of education and drive. Get your facts straight before you start downtalking people.

[airjor1]

Take a visit to a UC Hospital and College and then you can make an proper assessment. knowledge is power!

[nancyfair]

latoya, first of all, just because you had a hard life, why would you wish that on others? you agree that it's difficult, and you probably didn't deserve all the hardships you encountered, so why do you think others do? secondly, sometimes birth control is a matter of religion and culture, are you that ethnocentric that you would expect people to abandon culture and spirituality for economic reasons?

[beverlybarker]

To suggest that people learn to speak English in order to qualify for a better job, and to limit the number of children one has to what one can afford to raise isn't being "ethnocentric" -- it's just common sense. I didn't have children because I couldn't afford them, and in doing so I didn't abandon my culture, but rather practiced PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. Get a clue, people!!!

[LatoyaShanequa]

I agree beverly

[LatoyaShanequa]

Why is this UC's fault that these people can't get it together. I grew up in Compton and make the same amount of money and I don't freaking whine. GROW UP and get a life. Learn to speak English. That always helps. Use birth control. Thank helps too. Get a grant and go back to school. There are lots of options for minorities. Give me a break. Stop your lip smacking whiners!

[madebutante]

The UC system provides research for the military, Big Pharma and all the other corporations that take advantage of the loopholes given them by our government. In other words, it's a corrupt corporation, that wants only one thing: money. A progressive institution? Not UC!

[natebobp]

The real kicker is that the University's mission is to create and provide opprotunites to the community as a whole.

[onthebeach625]

The UC gives extraordinary opportunities to those who work towards it. The man who has worked at the UC for 38 years as a low level food service worker must take some accountability for the fact that he speaks no English. It is unrealistic to say that the UC must give you opportunities for growth when you do not have basic skills. You can't spend 40 years in an entry level position and expect to make anything but entry level wages.

[destripasapos]

You are completly mission the point. I don't think they are asking for promotion, they are asking that those entry level wages be adjusted to decent level.

[dfchavez625]

First, I find your comment to be extremely racist.

Second, what "extraordinary opportunities" are speaking of? Do you think that the over 90% of service workers who qualify for food stamps, welfare, and other public assistance programs because of UC's low wages are content and not trying to work towards better pay?

As a recent graduate of UCLA, I have found and know first hand the UC's greed and horrible treatment of its workers. The UC Executives and Regents are to blame for worker poverty.

[madebutante]

Even people who don't speak English (which is the US's second language, by the way) deserve to make a living wage. Your dog eat dog mentality is without compassionate - you don't know what issues this person has lived through - he does the work - he deserves the pay. Those who've had privileges in this country are so without compassion in their estimation of working people. It's a sad, xenophobic world!

[mcq54]

It's the arrogance of the UC system. They are so very top heavy, I just hope the new president does downsizing like they have done at the bottom for years. Constant turn-over due to low wages is no way to treat people, and low wages chases people away from the system totally. UC is just too arrogant.

[deeanjo]

I agree with this poster:

"But I feel we all have a choice. If you don't like what you are getting, you can find a better opportunity."

There are alot of benefits given to UC employees.3 weeks vacation to start, medical coverage, etc. No one seems to mention that part. Not tryng to offend either, but I don't understand. Why stay somewhere for 20+ years if you can't support yourself/family? If there are better paying jobs for this same type of unskilled work elsewhere, why not go get them?

[hitomimay]

What upsets me is where does all the money go to? They're not paying workers all that well, and they're totally shafting students on fin. aid. And they're trying to cancel a lot of our sport teams because "we don't have the budget". They've also fired very good professors because they haven't produced any great research... it's upsetting, really. It's a university, shouldn't education and the welfare of students and its faculty and staff be priority?

[sweetcandy0919]

I am not trying to offend anybody here. But I feel we all have a choice. If you don't like what you are getting, you can find a better opportunity. My last employer was disrespectful of my service, so I continued to build my skill and left. That is my attitudes toward life. Otherwise I am not where I am today. I hope this comment is not offending anybody.

[camipco]

Si se peude,

see you on the picket lines.

[1BVDIAM]

The people who make these choices for spending the budget of an institution of higher education and learning need some education themselves. They have no respect to give and seem to be drunk with their power and authority to a degree where it appears like they seek happiness at another's expense, the workers who provide support to the students, patients and even them. They should be removed from their office and be prohibited of enjoying any office of honor, trust or profit.

A Big disgrace!

[lynniethecarol]

Great video, thanks for making this. I'm a TA at UCI and I'll be walking the picket line next week, too. Si se puede!

[txhs2000]

It is sad to see that just because we clean the toilets and mop the floors we don't deserve any respect. Just imagine if it wasn't for people like us, their genitals and asses will probably not sit in the restrooms that they use everyday. Of course we all know that they will not clean the restrooms even if there is no custodians to clean it. Stop being jerks and give us what we deserve.

[txhs2000]

I'm a employee at UC Merced and you know what pisses me off is that some of the service workers I work with will not support the up coming strike. I just wish they stop being little bitches and stop kiss asses and do what's right, not just for themselves but for everybody else too.

[khaascp]

A man who has worked 38 years for the UC system should be making well over $24,000 a year. What is the matter with UC??? Please give us a wage where we can buy food,pay utilities and rent, and get to work without having to work side jobs or have to borrow from fellow employees to make it to next paycheck. Shame on UC for trying to fool the employees into not striking. Legal or not, we are making a stand to say this disrespect stops and it stops now.

[sunrae2008]

I think any employee who has to clean filth should be paid family sustaining wages. 24-32K in California is POVERTY. Perhaps the executive and administrative positions would like to do maintenance like clean toilets, mop floors, mow lawns, trim trees, clean up hazardous materials etc. for a minuscule amount of pay. Please know this, your University would not be as Clean and Beautiful without your Service workers and Maintenance employees, they should be rewarded for this type of work.

[jeffsc99]

you think that executives and administrators don't work their asses off? The higher level positions may make more money, but the responsibility increases as well. Blame and government and this country if you feel people in low level jobs are getting shafted. No one organization can change this.

[pizanoce]

I am a student but NOT AT UC because I can't afford it. I am attending a Community College.

[pizanoce]

I am a full time worker at UC Berkeley and a college student I have to work to pay my tuition and to survive It is way too hard but I have no other choice if I want to succed in life I have to get an education to IMAGINE that i will have a better future some day out of this UC!!! if is not enough management is running a campaign to scare workers!!by telling US that "OUR STRIKE IS ILLEGAL!!"

[kenesto]

Here is concrete and compelling in-your-face proof of the systematic disregard for the important service workers of the U.C.medical and educational establishments of California.This clip should be viewed by all those top ruling-body executives pocketing excess of $700,000 to about $1,000,000 bucks a year!That's fine they earn such salaries,only it unreasonable contrasts the wages for service workers that are the backbone of these wealthy institutions.This is profoundly why strikes must happen!

[thibaulthalpern]

Yeah...it's barely liveable as a single person making less than 15,000 (which I do). Imagine...with family.

By the way...no credits? Would like to see the credits

[pretlow72]

Thanks to everyone for your comments. Please keep them coming! We are hoping that this film will spark more dialogue about these issues. As far as credits, we had to shorten the youtube version just slightly to meet the 10 minute limit for videos, but the credits are there in text if you click on the "more info" link to the right of the screen.

[KAChristensen]

Thanks for the comments. The credits are there on the right of the screen click the hyperlink with for "more info"

[Pollymorphis]

The sad thing is that employees at many levels of the UC earn comparable wages. I made 30K this past year as a full-time lecturer. I am a single mom and this was not even remotely enough for me to support my child. I am leaving the adjunct circuit for this reason. The testimonies of the AFSCME workers made me cry. Fuck those bloodsucking bastards at the UC making six figures while everyone else struggles to survive.

[Lurchista]

Next week is the strike, find out what's going on at the UC near you.

[cdprevolt]

SAD! I can't believe that after the big UC executive pay scandal, we now we now find out where all that money came from... To work 3 jobs while still working at UC is WRONG! Where is the new UC President on this? The Regents? The Chancellors? The Politicians? Hiding? Ashamed?

Shame on UC, treat your workers like you should!

[stravinskyrocks]

Best of luck, brothers and sisters! I'll be walking on the line with you next week!

[eastbayalliance]

Si se puede!

[CasmirPulaski]

Thanks for making this, I didn't know this kind of stuff was happening on campus.

[UCSCalumnus]

Me too! I can't believe that the Unviersity is treating workers and students so poorly. A public university should not be raising student fees so that education is unaffordable and keeping workers in poverty by refusing to give raises.

[elnalgon11]

As a UC Alumnus, I am ashamed that the UC executives are treating workers and their families like this.