Gustavo Arellano’s Commencement Speech at UCLA

Gustavo Arellano was thrilled when he was asked to be a Commencement Speaker this year at UCLA.  But then labor union activists asked him to skip out on UCLA in solidarity with them.

Arellano was torn as he grew up in a pro-union household.  His mom was a union lifer.  His dad was a truck driver who, while not part of a union, was always supportive of unionized truck drivers.

Arellan ultimately decided to give the speech and to use it as an opportunity to bring attention to the plight of service workers on campus whose jobs and pay are in jeopardy due to budget cuts.

I am glad he stuck to his guns and delivered.  And I hope the University officials can find a way to help their service workers too.


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