Speaker Will Not Cross Picket Lines

Film star Danny Glover, who was slated to speak at this year’s commencement convocation, announced yesterday that he will not speak at the event unless the university resolves by next Wednesday its conflict with workers seeking higher wages.

Glover said he wants to stand in solidarity with UC Berkeley workers who have been asking for higher wages.

“If the issue is not resolved by the ceremony, then I will be unable to participate,” he said at a press conference on campus yesterday.

Last year, numerous speakers, including State Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, refused to appear at commencement ceremonies because they would not cross the campus unions’ picket lines.

The Senior Class Council, or the Californians, was responsible for selecting a commencement speaker and have said that they were careful to select a speaker outside the political arena in order to avoid the problem of speakers dropping out of ceremonies.

Glover said his decision not to speak at the event was a moral decision he made in keeping with those who refused to cross picket lines last year.

Campus representatives from the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees said they were pleased with Glover’s support.

“That is amazing,” said Maricruz Manzanarez, a custodian at Unit 2 and one of the organizers of the protests. “It is so exciting to get support from such an important person. Hopefully it will make an impact.”

Manzanarez said there will most likely be strikes again this year during commencement ceremonies.

Workers on campus are currently working under a contract that is negotiated at the systemwide level, said campus spokesperson Marie Felde.

“This is an important moment in students’ lives, and it is disappointing that the speaker will pull out at such short notice,” she said.

Students who were present at the press conference said they were happy about Glover’s decision to support the workers’ fight for wage increases.

“I’m a graduating senior, and I’m glad that Danny Glover is supporting the cause,” said Suguey Hernandez, a representative from the student group Xinaxtli, which supports workers calling for higher wages.

In response to Glover’s announcement, the Californians issued a statement urging students to still attend commencement.

“As leaders of the senior class, we respect Mr. Glover’s decision not to speak at the university-wide commencement. Ultimately, this is an issue that is bigger than the event itself and unfortunate for this year’s graduating class,” members of the Californians said in the statement.

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