Across the table from the protesters sits the UC Berkeley administration and the UC Berkeley campus police. Rehiring the custodians is the only immediate action for which the administration has authority - the administration lacks authority over the fee increase. Even the Regents (board of governers of the whole University of California system) have very little authority to do much about the fee increases. Yes, they had to act to impose them but it appears that too a large extent they had no other choice other than to become protesters themselves (and essentially have the UC system violate the law and/or various contracts).

The solidarity with the janitors arises because UC staff are suffering about as badly as the students. There is a recent history here of mutual solidarity.

Meanwhile, national news is now carrying the story about the 32% fee increase and its consequences.