For Immediate Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Debra Grabelle 510-774-4048

UC BERKELEY CHANCELLOR IGNORES CALLS TO END POVERTY WAGES FOR CUSTODIANS

Birgeneau Holds Al Gore Event Hostage to Unfair Wages

More than 300 University of California at Berkeley custodians – many of whom are working two jobs, collecting recycling cans and eating at soup kitchens just to support their families – called on Chancellor Robert Birgeneau to explain to the University community why he refuses to end poverty wages.

The chancellor’s refusal forced the cancellation of commencement speeches by Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean and California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, State Senator Liz Figueroa, Assemblywoman Carol Liu, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newson. Recently, former Vice-President Al Gore canceled his scheduled talk on Global Climate Change.

Since November, custodians who clean the dorms and classrooms at UC Berkeley have been urging the Chancellor to end poverty wages. Currently, a custodian who has worked at U.C. Berkeley for 5 full years is only making approximately $11.54/hour, while a neighboring community college, Peralta, is earning $18.30. A similar custodian at Chabot Las-Positas Community College earns $21.00/hour, nearly double the amount UC Berkeley pays its custodians.

“Imagine trying to support yourself and your family in the Bay Area on such a wage – the reality is that most UC Berkeley custodians are forced to have two jobs, eat at soup kitchens and collect recycling cans in order to make ends meet”, said custodian Maricruz Manzanita.

In a letter to UC Berkeley, Chairman Dean said, “I am writing to lend my voice to others calling for an immediate increase in the hourly wages of U.C. Berkeley’s custodial workers. I understand that the hourly wage for most custodians at the university is only slightly more than $11.20/hour. According to the California Budget Project, a single adult must earn at least $13.41 per hour to maintain a minimally sufficient living standard in Alameda County. Workers supporting families must earn considerably more simply to provide decent living standards for themselves and their children.”

“As an educational leader, UC Berkeley should be leading the way in fair treatment of its workers and their families, not lagging behind lesser-funded institutions by an embarrassing $6 an hour”, said Wanda Hasadsri, a graduating Boalt law student.