Fighting to Protect Education and Public Services—California Students and Unions Show Way Forward
“There's no question this is extraordinary – the worst situation in 50 years.” That’s how Susan Urahn, director of the Pew Center for the States, described the massive budget deficits facing state governments across the country on ABC News. “We saw a $180 billion cumulative budget gap in 2009 and predict the same for 2010.”
At the forefront lies California – both in terms of the scale of the crisis and the movement developing to resist the cuts in vital public services, particularly higher education. Facing a $62 billion deficit in 2009, Republican Governor Schwarzenegger and the Democratic legislature carried out a massive assault on workers and young people.
Higher education has seen billions in funding cut and thousands of faculty and staff laid off. Those remaining face furloughs, wage cuts, hiring freezes, huge increases in class sizes, reductions in course offerings, and cuts in financial aid.
In November, the University of California (UC) Regents approved a 32% tuition hike. Having no shame, the same regents gave themselves and other top administrators pay and benefit increases of up to 30%, on top of their already bloated salaries.
But what stands out against the background of these dreary facts is the bold struggle that has emerged against these attacks. The UC system, which has been at the head of the struggle, has been rocked by one of its biggest movements since the 1960s.
Determined Struggle
The movement erupted on September 24 with a strike and walkout by UC staff, students, and faculty, with thousands protesting across the state. This was followed by a statewide conference on October 24 with 750 people from all sectors of public education, from K-12 through the university level.
The conference voted to call for statewide actions on November 18-20 and a strike and day of action on March 4. |
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