Wednesday, April 20
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
University Club

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A nation-wide assault on public worker unions has intensified in recent months. The justification for this assault put forward by advocates is that public-worker union pensions are responsible for state and local budget deficits. The results in the past year have been the roll back of the salaries and benefits of many public employees throughout the nation.

Moreover, in recent months this campaign has seen dramatic success in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio, where collective bargaining for state employees have been effectively eliminated by Republican-controlled state governments. This assault is also occurring in many other states throughout the country, including California.

However, Professor Emeritus George Wright argues that there are greater political forces at play in the growing national fever to roll back the salaries and benefits of public employees. He contends that it's much more than just trying to balance a state budget, and, that it is also more than a Republican-led effort. President Obama, Gov. Jerry Brown, the Democratic Party and union leadership also come in for sharp criticism from Dr. Wright. He proposes that the assault on public worker unions is a coordinated campaign aimed: 1.) to make public workers pay for national, state, and local government's over-lapping financial crises; and, 2.) to weaken, and possibly bust, public worker unions. He also contends that the Republican's objective is to eliminate the ability of public work unions to provide financial support to the Democratic Party.

Professor Wright's presentation will: 1.) introduce his methodological framework; 2.) provide historical background to the current assault on public worker unions, including why the assault has intensified in recent months; 3.) rebut the arguments put forward to justify that assault; 4.) provide an analysis of the ongoing responses by the working class to the assault throughout the country; and, 5.) provide alternatives to addressing the current financial crisis.

The Events Committee of the University Club is proud to present Professor Emeritus George Wright to launch the first in a re-vitalized Lecture Series for members and alumni. Professor Wright received his doctorate in Politics from the University of Leeds in 1987. Prior to that, he received his master's and bachelor's degrees in History from Chico State College, where he taught Political Science for over three decades. A San Francisco resident, he spends some of his time teaching History at Skyline College.

A Q&A period follows. The cost to attend is $10, which includes one free drink.

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