Clinton's UCLA speech in jeopardy as union workers picket UC campuses

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/stories/2008/06/02/daily22.html

Thursday, June 5, 2008 - 8:05 AM PDT

Los Angeles Business from bizjournals - by Kathy Robertson of the Sacramento Business Journal

Picketers rallied at University of California campuses and medical centers Wednesday, even though the union that represents patient care and service workers called off a two-day strike scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.

Mediation continues between the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and UC after months of failed contract negotiations. The union represents more than 19,000 workers in the UC System.

Adding to the pressure to nail down a contract soon, former president Bill Clinton and California Assembly Speaker Emeritus Fabian Nunez have announced they will not speak at upcoming UC graduation ceremonies unless the labor fight is settled, union officials have announced.

Clinton is scheduled to speak at graduation ceremonies for UCLA on June 13; Nunez is scheduled to speak at graduation ceremonies for the UC Davis School of Education on June 11.

Pay is the central issue for the union, which contends UC wages have fallen behind other hospitals and community colleges. The existing contract between UC and the patient care unit expired Sept. 30, 2007; the service contract expired Jan. 31.

Both bargaining units have been at impasse with university management since early this year.