In an increasingly growing practice, A-list commencement speakers are refusing to cross a picket line in order to give a speech to college graduates. This year's list includes former President Bill Clinton who will not speak at a UCLA graduation ceremony Friday June 13th because of the university's ongoing labor dispute with AFSCME.

About 4,000 graduating seniors at the College of Letters and Science and their families and friends will pack into famed Pauley Pavillion, but the president will not be there because nearly 5,400 university employees including medical technicians, custodians and cafeteria workers have not been able to reach a new contract with UCLA.

AFSCME, known less commonly as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees represents 20,000 university employees statewide and have protracted contract negotiations across the state, which has resulted in the protest of other commencement speakers.

Former Speaker Fabian Nunez decided not to deliver a speech at UC Davis, School of Education's commencement exercise.

Former Black Panther turned college professor, Angela Davis also chose not to cross the picket lines by pulling out of a speech at UC Santa Cruz.

I'm not sure the graduates care that much, I couldn't even tell you who spoke at my graduation, to busy to pay attention but it must be embarrassing to the UC system, its board of regents and campus trustees who must suffer through some academic geek, errr, provost who must then replace the A-list speaker at the last moment.

Its nice to know that even former presidents, who usually make millions of dollars giving speeches still hold solidarity with shift workers.