Progress at the Table
On Wednesday at the negotiating table, TAUP and the administration signed a tentative agreement on adjunct hiring, evaluation and job security. It creates:
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The ability for adjuncts to receive multi-semester appointments
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Pay minimums associated with each rank
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An evaluation process for promotion, raises and multi-semester appointments that must include multiple methods of assessment (not just student feedback forms)
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A departmental contact person/mentor
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Information at the time of hiring in regard to how one’s rank and pay were set, and thus the ability to negotiate it
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Reasonable assurance language which will make it easier for adjuncts to receive unemployment between terms if they have not been issued an appointment letter
This critical piece of our contract comes after months of negotiations–years, if we count the prior adjunct negotiation–and an organizing push that has shown that our members can create meaningful change when we fight in solidarity for fair working conditions.
But, as with the other agreements we’ve signed–more than 20 at this point–this one will not come into effect unless we arrive at an overall agreement that can then be ratified by both sides. And much remains to be fought for at the table.
What’s standing in the way of an agreement?
- Current administrative proposals would increase family healthcare premiums by 4% (2% for individuals), would increase in-network deductibles from $0 to $500 ($250 for individuals), and copays for specialists from $20 to $40.
- The administration is still resisting our proposals on real parental leave for librarians and academic professionals
- They are unwilling to discuss childcare and tuition benefits at other universities
- Their wage proposal remains under the projected rate of inflation.
- Their proposals to weaken TAUP remain on the table–including one that would evict us from our main campus office.
Join us next week as we continue to fight for a fair contract
PETITION DELIVERY
Have you signed our petition to the Board of Trustees yet? You can now do so online here
On Monday, 11/11 at 11:30am we will be meeting in front of Sullivan Hall to drop off hundreds of petition signatures we’ve received asking the Board of Trustees to push Temple’s administration to bargain a fair contract.
Please email our organizer, Jenna Siegel (jsiegelaft@gmail.com) if you’re able to attend.
STOP THE ADMINISTRATION’S ATTACKS ON FAMILIES
On Tuesday, 11/12 at 11:30am we will be having an open bargaining session focused on the administration’s proposals that create additional burdens for families. The administration should not be asking families to absorb exorbitant increases for their health coverage, and the university has the money to offer childcare, tuition benefits at other schools, and real parental leave for librarians and academic professionals.