First Lady Obama & UC Merced

To:  First Lady Michelle Obama

May 6, 2009

Dear First Lady Michelle Obama:

Congratulations on your first 100 days as the First Lady of the United States of America. You are a wonderful inspiration to women all over the world, young and old and all individuals dedicated to positive changes in the world.

I am writing to urge you to cancel your engagement to speak at the Merced Campus of the University of California on May 16, 2009. The university is engaged in labor negotiations with my union, the Coalition of University Employees (CUE). CUE is an independent, member run union that represents the 14,000 Clerical and Allied Services Employees of the University of California over the ten campuses, five medical centers and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

The employees in this bargaining unit are among the lowest paid in the University system and many are subjected to work in hostile working environments which are known to administrators. Since May 2008, we have been negotiating to obtain a successor contract with an employer known to be the worst public-sector employer in the state of California.

Despite over five billion dollars ($5,000,000,000) in unrestricted reserve accounts and over five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) of federal monies allocated by President Obama’s stimulus package, the University aggressively seeks layoffs and threatens to furlough my co-workers and myself at a time when senior managers and executives continue to receive exceptional compensation packages.

Your refusal to Keynote the Graduation Ceremony at UC Merced will send a loud and clear message to the University administrators that it cannot continue to engage in unfair and appalling labor practices.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The First Lady Obama & UC Merced Petition to First Lady Michelle Obama was created by Coalition of University Employees (CUE) and written by Amatullah Alaji-Sabrie (negotiate88@gmail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.