They had a clear objective. They had the will to pursue
it. But at the end of the day, UCLA’s top official
didn’t see them.
About 150 workers, students and community leaders marched to
Chancellor Albert Carnesale’s office Friday afternoon in an
effort to get a commitment from the administrative leader to hire
subcontracted workers on campus.
“UCLA tries to commit to outreach to the community, but
it’s not happening on our own campus,” said fourth-year
international development studies and Latin American studies
student Jessica Martinez.
At the end of their march, the activists did not get to speak
with the chancellor and thus did not get a commitment.
Instead, Barbara Furgeson, a UCLA labor relations specialist,
read a statement from Carnesale stating the university will
“continue to work to resolve current employment
issues.”
“Unfortunately I can’t give you a commitment today,
but all of these contracting issues are being reviewed,”
Furgeson said, explaining the chancellor was not available to speak
with the protesters due to his busy schedule and lack of advance
notice of the event.
The march was the latest attempt from about 150 employees of
subcontracting agencies like Ampco System Parking to become
employees of UCLA. Advocates argue the lack of benefits and low
wages paid by the companies is not enough for workers to live
on.
“It’s very difficult, the salary is very small and
not enough. I have two daughters (at UCLA) and have to ask for help
from the government,” said Carlos Cruz, a stack parking
worker in Lot 4, speaking through a translator.
Protesters began gathering in Bruin Plaza at noon while a
handful of rally leaders held a pre-march meeting to discuss their
objectives and plan of action once they got to Murphy Hall.
The leaders included representatives from state assemblymen and
senators’ offices, members of the American Federation of
State, County and Municipal Employees, clergy from three area
churches, representatives of the Undergraduate Students Association
Council and other student leaders. The rest of the crowd was
composed mostly of students and workers.
The crowd progressed up Bruin Walk to Murphy Hall behind a
banner reading “End sub-contracting; Justice for parking
workers now” and chanting “Unate, pueblo, unate!
(Unite, community, unite!).”
Once they got to the steps of the administrative building, the
leaders went to the chancellor’s second floor office to be
greeted by a smiling Furgeson in front of the large glass
double-doors leading into the unavailable chancellor’s
office.Â
Leaders listened in stunned silence during the statement, but
quickly responded afterward with reactions of disappointment.
“Negotiations and meetings are not going to help those in
the parking lots!” yelled Victoria Preciado, a third-year
English and Spanish student.
“You’re contributing to poverty and not implementing
policies most voters believe in,” said Sophia Heller, a
representative for state Sen. Richard Alarcón, D-San Fernando
Valley.
Furgeson told them that UCLA shares their concerns and will
continue talks with the union and subcontracting companies.
After holding a short meeting, during which one AFSCME
representative called the outcome “insanely
disappointing,” the leaders went back outside, and Mike
Gutierrez of Santa Monica’s Saint Anne’s church told
the crowd, now made up of about 75, the disheartening news.
“They said no. But we’re not going to give up,
right?” he asked the crowd, receiving a resounding
“No!” in response.
“It’s unacceptable for the chancellor of any
university to make a statement like that,” said Matt
Kaczmarek, external vice president of the Undergraduate Students
Association Council.
At that point, the remaining protesters marched upstairs,
yelling and chanting for a half-hour in the crowded, hot
second-floor hallway.
University police reported no arrests, and Nancy Greenstein,
director of police community services, said AFSCME has been
“very good in terms of ensuring safety” during
protests.
With reports from Charles Proctor, Daily Bruin Reporter.