Month: March 2019

TAUP Digest 3/25/19

e-Bulletin 2019.03.25

Negotiations Update 

The discussions we have been having with the administration to set the stage for working together at the table are ongoing. At this point, we are where we were last week: waiting for a response to the most recent proposal we’ve submitted, but we’ve been told to expect one shortly, which is good news.  The negotiation of terms marks the beginning of the negotiating process, and once those terms are agreed upon, dates for working at the table can be set.  As soon as we have details, we will share them, including the dates, place, and topics for negotiation sessions, as well as ways that members can support the Table Team during open negotiation sessions.

Have you become a TAUP Member?

When  people represented by a union stand together and show that they support the work being done by their colleagues, they increase the strength of their own voice at the table. When the administration sees that membership is growing, they know that the work of the union is reinforced.

Dues paying members increase their union’s ability to leverage the gains that members need and want to see.  Over the next two weeks, member activists will be reaching out to colleagues to ask them to join TAUP. If you haven’t signed your membership card yet, now is your chance! Join here. If you have questions about becoming a dues paying member, reach out to our office taupaft@gmail.com.

Members’ Corner: Getting a Contract that Recognizes our Humanity and Dignity

“…we deserve for our employer to recognize that our work is not separate from our humanity nor our students’ humanity—that we are not simply cogs in the Temple machine or the CCP machine, or the Arcadia machine—that thanks to our hard work we should know that will still have a job next semester, next year, the next decade– so that we can allow ourselves to breathe, do our jobs well, AND be human.”  

-Mary Stricker, NTT Sociology

Read Mary Stricker’s remarks from TAUP’s Contract Kickoff Event at Pub Webb two weeks ago.

 

The Presidential Executive Order on “Free and Open Debate” and Federal Funding

As many of you know, President Trump signed an Executive Order last week purporting to protect “free and open debate on college and university campuses,” and threatening institutions that do not follow his directive with the loss of federal funds.  TAUP strongly supports “free and open debate” at Temple and elsewhere, and, as per our contract, will defend the academic freedom of all of our members whatever their political beliefs.  But, along with statements from  our national union, the AFT, and the American Association of University Professionals (AAUP), we oppose the President’s diktat.

 As the AAUP says, it is “a solution in search of a problem–as the order notes, colleges and universities already have policies protecting free expression on campus, and, in the case of public institutions, are bound by the First Amendment.”  It authorizes cabinet agencies and the Office of Management and Budget to determine whether an offense against free inquiry has been committed, but almost all of these entities lack expertise in higher education as well as debates around free speech.  Finally, despite its supposed support for a diversity of views on campus, it is designed, as stated in the AAUP’s post, to be dangerously slanted toward institutions more likely to support the President’s politics.   Please consider signing the AAUP’s petition against this ill-conceived Executive Order.

 

TAUP Solidarity with Community College of Philadelphia: Informational Picket, March 20th

Our sister union at CCP, the Faculty and Staff Federation of Community College of Philadelphia (FSFCCP) has been working without a contract for three years. They recently authorized a strike vote, though they hope that a strike will not be necessary.  They are fighting administrative proposals that would increase their workload, which is already high in relation to other community colleges nationally, gut faculty governance, raise health-care costs, and refuse to pay their classified staff a living wage.

TAUP stands in solidarity with FSFCCP in this fight, and we invite you to join us in supporting them.  At an informational picket and march last Wednesday, TAUP’s Vice President, Jennie Shanker spoke in support of their efforts as did the Chair of our Adjunct Constituency Council, Zoe Cohen , representing United Academics of Philadelphia.  You can see photos of the event here, as well as a video from Jason Esters, who recently received his doctorate from Temple’s English Department here. The FSFCCP has always stood by TAUP, knowing that our struggles are theirs as well. We stand by the FSFCCP knowing the same. We will keep you posted on any further opportunities to show solidarity with CCP faculty, staff and students. .

TAUP Elections

If you are interested in being nominated or nominating yourself to run for President, Vice President, or Treasurer of TAUP or to serve on one of our faculty Constituency Councils, please read here.  Note that Self-Nomination Petitions must be received by the Nominating Committee, TAUP Office, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Ritter Annex 721 (004-15), Philadelphia, PA 19122-6091, by Friday March 29, 2019.

TAUP Digest 3/18-3/22

Negotiations Update  

We have sent a proposal to the administration on the process for discussing the various issues before us and hope to set dates soon.  The Table Team is hard at work developing proposals, and we look forward to discussing them with you and the administration.  As soon as we have details, we will share them, including the dates, place, and topics for negotiation sessions.

 

TAUP Contract Campaign Kickoff Event 3/13:  Solidarity and Success!

On Wednesday, a lively crowd gathered at Pub Webb to kickoff our contract campaign. “Our Temple,” is the overarching theme, expressing solidarity across our ranks for a Temple University that fully values its faculty, librarians, academic professionals, and the wider community. 

 

With Marsha Weinraub (CLA) acting as emcee, we were galvanized by speakers from Arcadia, CCP, TUGSA, and our own members (Leanne Finnigan from Paley Library and Mary Stricker from CLA) as well as a powerful message from Rep. Chris Rabb (PA-200), a former Temple adjunct, and a rousing speech from Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, from Temple’s district. 

 

Members’ Corner: Leanne Finnigan on Parental Leave

Read Leanne Finnigan’s thoughts on parental leave, presented at the contract kickoff event last week.

 

Organizing Conversation Trainings

Organizing does not stop during negotiations; it’s essential to our strength at the table.  If you want to learn how to talk with your colleagues about the Union, we’ll be holding an Organizing Conversation training on Friday March 22nd from 12-2pm at the TAUP office, Ritter Annex 721. RSVP here.

 

Community College of Philadelphia Informational Picket, March 20th

Our sister union at CCP, the Faculty and Staff Federation of Community College of Philadelphia (FSFCCP), has been working without a contract for three years. They recently authorized a strike vote, though they hope that a strike will not be necessary.  They are fighting administrative proposals that would increase their workload, gut faculty governance, raise health-care costs, and refuse to pay their classified staff a living wage. 

 

TAUP stands in solidarity with FSFCCP in this fight, and we invite you to join us in supporting them.  Steve Newman, President of TAUP, testified on the Union’s behalf at City Council on the 12th, and TAUP urges its members to attend an Informational Picket and March Through Campus at CCP this Wednesday, 12:30-1:30. 

 

 

TAUP Elections

If you are interested in being nominated or nominating yourself to run for President, Vice President, or Treasurer of TAUP or to serve on one of our faculty Constituency Councils, please see here.  Note that Self-Nomination Petitions must be received by the Nominating Committee, TAUP Office, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Ritter Annex 721 (004-15), Philadelphia, PA 19122-6091, by Friday March 29, 2019.

 

 

Are You Full-Time and Leaving Temple for Another Job? Important Considerations

Every year some of our members leave Temple for jobs elsewhere, and they are often unaware that if they are on a 9-month contract but are paid through the Summer that their “July and August payments are paid in anticipation of [their] return to service in September. 

 

Accordingly, faculty who received payments in July and August payrolls but who leave Temple University for any reason prior to the beginning of the Fall semester must reimburse the University for the July and August payments” (from the website of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs).

 

Please note also the University’s policy in the Faculty Handbook that “A faculty member may terminate his or her appointment effective at the end of an academic year provided that the faculty member gives notice in writing at the earliest possible opportunity, but not later than May 15 or 30 days after receiving notification of the terms of his or her appointment for the coming year, whichever date occurs later”  If you have questions or concerns, please contact TAUP. Faculty Pay Schedule

 

 

Student Debt Clinic 

TAUP remains committed to helping our members, many of whom are saddled with significant student loans, alongside Temple students and alumni.

 

We are partnering with our citywide AFT local, the United Academics of Philadelphia, in offering a free Student Debt Clinic. The clinic is open to everyone in our bargaining unit.

 

 March 21st from 7-9 p.m

United Academics of Philadelphia

601 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123

 

Please RSVP here.

 

Student debt–now at $1.5 trillion– has a long-term negative effect on borrowers and on the economy as a whole, discouraging individuals from making substantial purchases and starting businesses.  

 

For our students, it increases their stress while in school, forcing them to make decisions about what classes to take, what major to pursue, what apartment to rent and what food to buy. Too many students are pressured to drop out of school, or never to attend in the first place. It has had a significant influence on universities–including Temple–as a place to study and as a place to work.

 

Campaign Kickoff Event!

TAUP’s Campaign Kickoff event at Pub Webb on Cecil B. Moore Ave last week was a rousing success! Here are a few images from the event

Kolson Schlosser, chair of TAUP’s NTT Constituency Council and Srimati Mukherjee
Jason Norris, Jeffrey Solow – Tenured/Tenure Track Constituency Council Member at Large, Paul Dannenfelser and Norma Corrales-Martin – TAUP Treasurer.
Ben Curttright and Andrew Dudenbostel
Daniel Pieczkolon and Marsha Weinraub, emcee extraordinaire, wrapping things up!
A great crowd turned out for the event
Mary Stricker explaining why it’s crucial that Temple is a place where its faculty, librarians, and academic professionals are treated like whole human beings
Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta expressing his solidarity!
Destinee Grove, Pres. of TUGSA, expressing her solidarity!
Junior Brainard and Nweena Gates of the Faculty and Staff Federation of CCP (FSFCCP) showing solidarity!
Daniel Pieczkolon telling us about the gains they’re making at Arcadia and how our struggles reinforce each other!
TAUP’s new Operations Manager Patricia Blakey, President Steve Newman, Clifton Fordham and Omar T. Woodard
Paul Dannenfelser, Fred Rowland – chair of the Librarian’s Constituency Council, Daniel Pieczkolon – Arcadia University, Mary Stricker and Barbara Ferman
Zoe Cohen, chair of TAUP’s Adjunct Constituency Council, and Destinee Grove, President of TUGSA
Leanne Finnigan from the Paley Library explaining why our maternity and sick leave provisions sorely need improving.