UC Employees Overwhelmingly Reject President Mark Yudof: Thousands Participated in the Historic Vote of No-Confidence

OAKLAND— Employees throughout the University of California system overwhelmingly rejected the leadership of UC President Mark Yudof in a stinging 96% vote of no-confidence. The unprecedented vote took take place from Wednesday, August 26 through Wednesday, September 2 on all UC campuses, and resulted in a resounding declaration of no confidence. The vote had been organized by a coalition of unions protesting Yudof’s budgetary policies.

Even though the vote took place during the summer break when most faculty and students are away, thousands of UC workers such as faculty, custodians, nurses, lab techs, and clericals formed long lines at polling places across the state in this historic and unprecedented vote of no confidence in the President of the UC system. “I voted no-confidence in Yudof because enough is enough,” says Carolan Buckmaster, a UC San Diego staff research associate and campus president of the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE CWA-9119). “Our campus community knows that President Yudof’s policies are misguided. He chooses to implement tuition hikes and devastating cuts to teaching, research, patient care and other vital services, all the while propping up UC executives with lavish bonuses and pay raises.”

“California deserves University leadership working to maintain the UC mission during these tough times, not destroy it,” says Lakesha Harrison, a UCLA Licensed Vocational Nurse and President of AFSCME 3299. “Yudof’s plan instructs campuses to make the cuts visible by eliminating classes, laying off workers, increasing class sizes, and making it harder for students to graduate on time. This is unacceptable.” Meanwhile President Yudof and the Regents continue to raise the pay of top bureaucrats while they claim there is no money. This is a public university not a Wall Street hedge fund.”

The University of California union coalition who organized the vote of no confidence represents over 60,000 employees on campuses, medical and research facilities throughout the UC system.