UC Santa Cruz teaching assistants continue protest for a second day

Teaching assistants and their supporters are rallying for a second day at the UC Santa Cruz campus.

As of 4:30 p.m. Thursday, traffic diversions were in place around the Bay and High street intersection, directing traffic away from the main entrance to the west entrance. The west entrance is open to all vehicles entering and leaving the campus; vehicles may exit through the main entrance.

Motorists are urged to use caution when driving on campus because of numerous pedestrians.

The protest is part of a coordinated labor strike throughout the University of California system. Approximately 13,000 people represented by the UC Student-Worker Union UAW 2865 are striking throughout the state. The union represents about 600 teaching assistants at UCSC, according to university spokesman Jim Burns.

Two people were arrested Thursday, bringing the total of arrests resulting from the strike to 22. Wednesday, twenty people were arrested on charges related to blocking traffic and failure to disperse.

One person also was charged with resisting arrest.