Month: August 2020

Your Rights to a Safe Workplace and How to Exercise Them

As Temple University begins reporting COVID-19 cases in the Temple community, it’s essential that we’re aware of our right to a healthy and safe workplace.

There are federal, state and local protections for workers, including Pennsylvania’s  Public Employe Relations Act, the national Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) and the recent City of Philadelphia  Emergency Health Order.

Any or all of these laws may apply, depending on your unique job type or workplace safety concern.

Bottom line: You’re not alone in dealing with such concerns. Addressing health and safety concerns through your union is a “protected concerted activity,” under the Public Employe Relations Act. 

Under the Health and Safety clause of our collective bargaining agreement, “Temple agrees to continue to make reasonable provisions for the safety and health of bargaining unit members in pursuit of their university recognized professional responsibilities.“

Contact taupaft@gmail.com or call 215-763-2287 for support in understanding how these protections may apply to you.

If subjected to unsafe conditions, what should I do? 

  • Keep a record to document working conditions, i.e. emails, notes, photos and video and contact taupaft@gmail.com or call 215-763-2287 for help in choosing the best course of action.

  • If you are involved in an incident that involves a person or people on campus, follow the University’s guidelines.  We recommend starting with the Return to Campus tab on TU Portal.

If one of my students tests positive for COVID-19, what should I do?

  • The administration tells us that faculty aren’t allowed to move a class online when students test positive for COVID-19.  Faculty Guidance for the Fall 2020 Semester states as follows:  “Make any reasonable accommodation necessary so that the student can continue to participate in class during any period of quarantine, just as you would in the case of a student with non-COVID related needs. Otherwise, continue with class as scheduled unless instructed otherwise by the contact tracing unit and/or your Dean’s office.”

  • If a student tests positive and the administration insists on continuing in-person instruction, contact taupaft@gmail.com or call 215-763-2287, so your circumstances can be reviewed and we can explore alternatives.

 

If a student isn’t complying with mask mandates, what are my options?

  • The University has provided guidance in a video embedded in Faculty Guidance for the Fall 2020 Semester FAQ.  The In-Person Classroom Management segment directs faculty to follow these steps:

    • Remind student(s) of the policy

    • Request that they follow the policy

    • Refuse to move forward with the class until the student complies

    • Reschedule the class online

    • Refer the student(s) to Student Conduct

  • The university’s Compliance Officer and the Vice President for Human Resources sent an Aug. 19 email offering further advice if you are in a discomfiting situation.  Among their recommendations is reaching out to the point person designated for each college, school, and department. TAUP has not received a list of these contacts; we recommend that you ask your Chair.

We will get through these tough times together. You’re a member of a union composed of your colleagues and peers. We stand collectively to advocate for health and safety and to protect us all within the bounds of the law.

P.S. If you’re interested in working with the union to promote a healthy and safe campus, contact Jenna Siegel jsiegelaft@gmail.com.

New Contract Gains Begin!

It’s Good to Have a Union 

Although the pandemic has altered so many aspects of our lives, the contract TAUP ratified remains in force. This means that many of the policies, pay increases and programs established in our new contract began in July, and with August’s arrival, almost all of the new elements will  be activated.

The New Contract is Now Online!

We are still waiting for agreement on final language with the administration on a very small number of details, but we are posting the new TAUP contract online at this time.  Once final details are confirmed, hard copy versions will be printed and distributed to everyone in the collective bargaining unit.

We have to wait until next year for the Tuition Exchange to become available for all Full-Time members, but almost all of the other provisions of the contract are now in place including:

 

Gains for Full Time CBU Members

 

Gains for Adjunct Faculty

 

Changes in Healthcare

The raises the union has negotiated and protected raises are especially important given the announcement that Temple has recently increased the cost of health insurance premiums for all  University employees by 9.6%.  Though unions cannot control the cost of premiums, we do negotiate the percentage of that premium that members pay.   Our contract guarantees that the percentage of the premium that TAUP members pay will not increase this year.

 

The Potential Fiscal Impact of COVID-19

Non-union employees at Temple will not be receiving raises this year, and many individuals in the administration have received a pay cut.  Our contract  guarantees that the Temple administration cannot take away our hard-earned gains.  But we may expect that the pandemic could lead the administration to ask again for concessions from all of its unions.  Just as in the Spring when this occurred, TAUP leaders will  listen carefully to any request, ask the administration questions to insure transparency and the need for concessions, and discuss any proposals that are made with TAUP members.  Any change to the terms of the contract would need to be ratified by dues-paying members.

 

There is Power in a Union

The power of a union has never been more important than in challenging times like the ones we currently face.  If you are not a member, JOIN TAUP.

Health & Safety:  We Have Heard Your Voices

On Thursday, the results from members’ vote on Health and Safety Conditions were finalized.  92% of those who voted supported the Conditions. Thanks to everyone who stood up and voted.
Shortly after, TAUP members and leaders met on Zoom with representatives from local media to discuss concerns with the University’s plan to return to campus in the fall.
 
TAUP President Steve Newman noted how serious the potential dangers are:
“The CUNY system [City University of New York] lost 38 people in the spring. That should give us all pause. Lives and health have to be preserved first.”
 
Associate Professor of Nursing Susan Dickey told Philadelphia Tribune: 
“I believe that many of the decision makers have never met a ventilator. I’ve seen a lot of very sick patients. For many years, I worked in a critical care unit. I’ve seen a lot of sick people as a nurse and this one [virus] is terrifying, even to me.” 
Librarian and TAUP Vice President Leanne Finnigan pointed out gaps in the oversight of compliance:
“Administrators have told us that Allied Universal security guards will enforce facial covering compliance only when patrons enter the building. They’ve given no guidance about how to handle compliance once people are inside. This is insufficient. It’s dangerous.” 
She also discussed childcare now that the Philadelphia School District will be conducting online classes until at least November, stating: 
“We’re in a bind and we can’t do it all. We can’t do it all. I’ve heard from a number of single parents in particular who are extremely stressed because they don’t have the luxury of being able to tag team child care or elder care. 
 
CLA adjunct Carol Gallo noted that adjuncts who turn down courses offered to them lose their eligibility for Unemployment Benefits:
“The way things are set up, it’s incentivizing them to teach in person when they may not feel safe.” 
In addition, she shared that the administration would not commit to keeping an adjunct on payroll if they were to get sick mid semester, a policy that could induce unsafe decisions and encourage people to teach in-person while sick.
 
TAUP staffer and adjunct Jennie Shanker asked Philadelphia Magazine:
“How come they can’t give us a piece of plexiglas? How come they’re only offering face shields, which the CDC says is not adequate? How come they’re letting students come into the classroom with any kind of face covering, no matter how inadequate? 
TAUP Staff Organizer Jenna Siegel told the Philadelphia Inquirer:
“They’re asking us to take risks when COVID cases are rising. We want to work. But one unnecessary fatality is just too many.”
 
NBC10 Report:
 
PHILADELPHIA MAGAZINE reports:
 
WHYY reports:
 
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER reports:
Next steps:
  1. Keep us in the loop if you have requested an accommodation and have been turned down.
  2. Reach out to TAUP organizer Jenna Siegel jsiegelaft@gmail.com and become involved in the campaign to increase pressure on the university.
  3. Report concerns you have about return plans in your college/school, department, or for your class to taupaft@gmail.com.  Please make sure to check your schedule so that you know whether you’ve been assigned to teach entirely online, in-person, or a hybrid.  Members have reported some unwelcome surprises.
And as always, read upcoming e-bulletins for information and actions you can take.