Actor and civil rights activist Danny Glover may leave Berkeley speechless

[Omaha Steve]

http://origin.insidebayarea.com/timesstar/localnews/ci_5791459

Glover may leave Berkeley speechless

Actor-activist says he won't speak at graduation unless custodians and university come to terms
By Kristin Bender, STAFF WRITER
Article Last Updated: 05/02/2007 10:33:35 AM PDT

BERKELEY — Actor and civil rights activist Danny Glover announced Monday he will not speak at next week's University of California, Berkeley, graduation ceremony unless the university resolves a longstanding labor strife with custodians over pay.

Glover, 60, is a San Francisco native who starred in the "Lethal Weapon" movies as well as last year's Academy Award-winning musical, "Dreamgirls."

The actor could join a long list of prominent politicians and community activists boycotting UC campuses in Berkeley, Irvine, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz until pay issues with custodians are resolved.

UC Berkeley custodians have been in a labor dispute with the university for 18 months because those with five years of work experience earn $12 an hour while custodians with equal experience working at a Peralta Community College District campus earn $18.30 an hour, according to representatives from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299.

That union represents about 1,000 UC Berkeley custodians, food and maintenance workers, and other service employees.

Glover, a graduate of San Francisco State University, has been a longtime supporter of unions following in the footsteps of both his parents, who were active in the postal workers union both locally and nationally, he said.

FULL story at link.

[Catherine Vincent]

1. Danny Glover rocks!

:)

[Cant trust em]

2. Glover v. Gavin Newsom

Here's something that Danny Glover's not too old for. Danny Glover for Mayor. Let's give that slicked up show pony an old school SF beatdown!

[Dhalgren]

3. Glover is to be respected.

:kick: :yourock: :thumbsup: :applause:

[rosesaylavee]

4. Big K & R for Mr. Glover!

Standing up for the little guy... love it!

[jeff30997]

5. Go Danny !

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

6. K & R. Good on you, Mr. Glover.

:toast: :kick: MKJ

[Canuckistanian]

7. Geez, at least SOMEONE's sticking up for labor issues

Good for You, D.G.!

:toast:

[TacticalPeek]

8. Right on.

The spirit of his excellent movie, Freedom Song, is alive today.

[JimDandy]

9. Good for him. Unions...

are what gave America a solid middle class in the first place.

[lonestarnot]

10. I love you Danny Glover!

:loveya:

[file83]

11. The UC Berkely area (Bay Area) has a very high cost of living...

How the hell is anyone supposed to make a living on $12/hour around there?

$18.30/hour would be a big help.