Yee to Stop Confirmation of Anti-Worker Regent
SAN FRANCISCO – Multi-millionaire and University of California Regent David Crane recently took his cue from Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) and called for an end to collective bargaining rights for California’s teachers, nurses, firefighters, university employees, and other public sector workers.
Today, Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) was joined by hundreds of community members and public employees to rally against Regent Crane’s recent attack on working families. Senator Yee announced plans to stop Crane’s confirmation and to protect the vital services provided in our communities by public employees.
“While the Regents approve million dollar contracts for their top administrators, David Crane wants to take away the rights of working class families,” said Yee. “It is time for Regent Crane to put away his Wisconsin playbook and come down from his ivory tower.”
Crane argued in an op-ed published in the San Francisco Chronicle that “collective bargaining for public employees in California changed the balance of power and – most importantly – gave public employees power over their compensation and benefits.”
“Public employees make an enormous contribution to our neighborhoods and our communities,” said Yee. “Taking away workers’ collective bargaining rights – which doesn’t help balance the budget or protect vital services – while giving big corporations tax breaks is simply unconscionable.”
Crane, a resident of San Francisco, was appointed to the Board of Regents by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) during his final days in office. Crane awaits final confirmation to the Board of Regents by the Senate.
“I am asking that the Senate immediately take up his appointment and deny his confirmation,” said Yee. “David Crane should not be a voting member at the next Regent’s meeting. California can do better.”
Today, Yee was joined by workers from the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME 3299), California Nurses Association (CNA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU 1021), University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE), California School Employees Association (CSEA), Professional Engineers in California Government (PECG), Council of UC Faculty Associations, California Association of Professional Scientists, Coalition of University Employees-Teamsters, and University Council – American Federation of Teachers, among others.
What workers are saying about David Crane…
“David Crane has proven, once again, that he is unfit to serve as a regent of the University of California. For us, this is not just a fight for collective bargaining. It is a fight to save the middle class.” – Allan Clark, President, California School Employees Association (CSEA)
“Patient care is my top priority. Because of our union, we were able to work out receiving hours for continuing education to improve our skills in the Radiology Department that allows us to provide a higher quality of patient care. David Crane’s hope to get rid of collective bargaining for public employees is not just an attack on working families—it is an attack on patients and quality care.” – Randy Johnson, UCSF MRI/CT Technologist and AFSCME member
“Nurses know that if the right is successful in their efforts to break our unions, we will no longer have a voice in the political arena to advocate for better and safer care for our patients. Whether it’s in Wisconsin, or at the University of California, we cannot allow that to happen.” – DeAnn McQuen, Council of Presidents, California Nurses Association
“Governor Walker in Wisconsin and David Crane in California are trying to turn back the clock to a time when workers had no rights. We will not allow this to happen” – Tim Paulson, Executive Director of the San Francisco Labor Council
“David Crane has repeatedly demonstrated his unwillingness and inability to represent the interests of the public. He is unfit to serve on the Board of Regents or any other public body.” – Matt Hanson, State Engineer and President of the Professional Engineers in California Government (PECG)
“Our opposition to Crane is to yet one more multi-millionaire who made his fortune in investment banking—just like current Regents Richard Blum, Russell Gould, Hadi Makarechian, Leslie Tang Schilling, George Marcus and Bonnie Reiss. The UC Regents are supposed to represent the people of California, not just the multi-millionaire investment bankers of California. Is it just a coincidence, by the way, that investment bankers in general have an incentive to get people out of institutional defined benefit plans and into individual defined contribution plans? Crane’s op-ed was a red flag to the legislature that this Schwarzenegger appointment must be stopped. I applaud Senator Yee for getting the message and taking action.” – Robert Meister, Professor of Social and Political Thought at UCSC and President of the Council of UC Faculty Associations
“David Crane is free to express his anti-worker views as a private citizen, but he should not have the bully pulpit of the UC Regents. The anti-union campaign he has waged against state employees in California should not be allowed to continue as part of our world class public university system.” – Patty Velez, Environmental Scientist and President of the California Association of Professional Scientists
“Close to 50 percent of the employees in the UC system are covered by collective bargaining agreement. It therefore makes no sense to have a Regent who is against unions and half of the workers. We need Regents who are about education and the people who make the university work.” – Bob Samuels, President of the University Council – American Federation of Teachers
“Every day is a struggle for me and my family to make ends meet. I know high paid UC execs have plans to cut my check even more. It is not right that I am tightening my belt while executives are getting fatter. At least I know that my coworkers and I are guaranteed a voice through my union in decisions that are being made that will affect us, so we can protect our families.” – Arnold Meza, UC Berkeley Custodian and AFSCME member
