Dear Janet Napolitano and UC community,
It has come to our attention that the University of California administration intends to negotiate the COLA demands, initiated at UC Santa Cruz, with the UC Graduate and Professional Council (UCGPC). For many reasons including, but not limited to, the fact that this organization does not represent our campus in any leadership or representational capacity, we are sorry to inform you that any decisions at which you may collectively arrive will not impact our organizing or our conviction. We have explicitly and intentionally chosen for several years not to become members of this organization, we do not pay dues, and our External Vice President does not sit on its board. Furthermore, UCGPC has nothing to do with the COLA campaign, has refused contact since its inception, and continues to fail to recognize our needs.
We continue to welcome negotiations directly with striking graduate students at UCSC, and continue to assure our comrades that all substantive decisions related to the strike will be put to a democratic vote.
No COLA; no grads,
UCSC Graduate Student Association
UAW-2865 Santa Cruz
Striking graduate students