Dear friends and supporters of U.C. labor research and education:

MANY OF YOU HAVE seen the emailed message from President Dynes or reports in the press that the Governor vetoed $3.8 million in funding for labor studies at University of California. This item had been included in the budget passed with bipartisan support in both the Senate and Assembly last week. The veto was, to put it mildly, a surprise to the many in the legislature who support labor research and education. Although budgetary savings were stated as the reason, this was the only item vetoed in the entire UC budget.

We want to assure you that the effort to maintain funding for this important work is far from over. Discussions with legislative leadership are on-going. We will also continue to press our case that this work deserves full support from the University's other resources, which have grown considerably this year. Research and education on matters of importance to the working people of this state may deserve more resources from the university than they presently receive; they certainly deserve no less.

During this budget cycle, we have been heartened by the many people who have expressed support for our research and education programs. We will continue to present the facts to state leaders and to the university: that the work we do is of top quality, has much policy relevance and deserves priority funding, both from the legislature and from internal university sources.

We will keep you informed as we learn more.

Michael Reich,
Professor of Economics and
Director, UC Berkeley Institute of Industrial Relations

Katie Quan
Chair, UC Berkeley Center on Labor Research and Education

Ruth Milkman
Professor of Sociology and
Director, UCLA Institute of Industrial Relations

Gary Blasi
Professor of Law and former
Acting Director, UCLA Institute of Industrial Relations

Kent Wong
Director, UCLA Center on Labor Research and Education