Category: events

Trump’s Immigration Policies Affect Us All: March for a Sanctuary City

On Friday, July 27, the Guardian reported that the Trump administration is planning to rescind work permits for spouses of individuals on H-1b visas. These are the visas issued to our international colleagues; if carried out, this action by the administration will damage them and their families. Immigration policy and policing affect many of our students as well as other workers who are employed at the University while on temporary visas.

When our colleagues and our students are hurt in this manner, it affects us all; and we must stand up alongside them in fighting unnecessary policies, rooted in racist nationalism.

Activism in support of migrants who are in the country, many of whom are seeking asylum as protected by U. S. and international law, has been growing and is proving to be effective. By supporting this activism, we are supporting reasonable immigration policies. Among other benefits, these policies will allow the University to attract and retain scholars and their families who will be able to live, study, and be productive in this country without threats to their work or residency status.

The repercussions of the “zero tolerance” border policies of the Trump administration, which resulted in the separation of children from their parents, may take years to sort out, and the damage done to those targeted by it may be irreparable. If it were not for the outrage expressed throughout the U.S. against it, what would it say about our country? What would it say about us?

Last week, after mounting pressure from local activist groups, Mayor Kenney declared that he will not renew the City’s Preliminary Arraignment Reporting System (PARS) contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) which allowed real-time sharing of arrest data between the Philadelphia Police and ICE.

This data was able to be used to arrest victims of crime who lacked legal status in the country, and advocacy groups report that it made migrants more vulnerable to manipulation and abuse as they were hesitant to report crimes that were aimed at them. PBS has reported last week that thousands have reported sexual abuse while in ICE custody as well, a crime that is notoriously under-reported.

The activist groups that were able to sway Mayor Kenney are now moving toward their second of three goals: closing the Berks County Residential Center. Berks is a low-security detention center where families are sent to for an indeterminate amount of time while they await asylum hearings. Families end up at Berks after being randomly selected. Some who cross the border are released after posting bond money or wearing ankle monitors. Others are sent to Berks for detention. Many, including Philadelphia’s City Council, are calling on Governor Wolf to close of the facility so that the detainees can be released until their petitions for asylum are heard. (For more information click here.)

The third goal of the activist groups is to abolish ICE. This is more complicated, as ICE performs many important functions. But immigration oversight existed far before ICE came to be. ICE is an entity that resulted from the restructuring of the Department of Homeland Security after 9/11 when “Congress granted ICE a unique combination of civil and criminal authorities to better protect national security and public safety”. Given the xenophobia in the U.S. at this moment, such authorities are too easily abused and must be reconsidered.

A member of the coalition of activists approached TAUP for support of their upcoming action, the March for a Sanctuary City on August 4th. The Executive Committee voted in support, and we hope you will join us in pushing Governor Wolf to shut down the Berks County Residential Center and for the abolition of ICE, whose functions can be restructured in a manner that does not invite the unnecessary over-policing and abuse of migrants seeking asylum in this country.

Please join us:

March for a Sanctuary City, August 4th, 11am-2pm, beginning at Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell, 6th and Market Streets

It’s a TAUP Summer: Negotiation Prep, Surveys, a Membership Drive and Activist Training

It’s summertime and, like everyone else, TAUP is shifting gears. Between terms, we have the opportunity to assess the work we’ve done over the semester and to think ahead in planning for the fall.

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

To build power to negotiate for our pay, benefits, and working conditions, we need strong relationships with colleagues both in and outside of our individual departments and schools. Becoming a dues-paying member of TAUP is an important and meaningful way for you to connect with colleagues, with the university and with communities both on and off campus. By signing a membership card your voice can, and will, be heard.

Our strength in negotiating at the table is directly linked to our membership numbers. If you are not currently a dues-paying member, if you want the Union to be in a good position to fight for a strong new contract and to build on and maintain the gains you enjoy, it’s time to join.

This summer, we’ll be out knocking on doors, both on campus and off. Why do we go to people’s homes? Because it is that important. Let us know if we’ve caught you at a bad time. Our experience with members through home visits has been very positive. We wouldn’t continue to do it if that were not the case. We’ve been able to connect with people at their homes whom we’ve been unable to contact with on campus. Unlike at school, people have time to talk. If you’re not currently a dues-paying member and you’d prefer to meet at school or at a specific time at home, contact our organizer, Abbey Bricker, to make arrangements.

NEGOTIATION PREPARATION

We’ll be back at the table in Spring of 2019, and in preparation, we’re engaged in research and in outreach to members of the bargaining unit. If you’d like to help by taking on a small project, or if you’d be interested in being a liaison between the Union and your department, please contact TAUP President Steve Newman or VP Jennie Shanker .

BARGAINING SURVEYS

This summer, you’ll be hearing from us. Negotiations for the full bargaining unit start in Spring of 2019, and in preparation for them, we’ll be sending out surveys to help us identify the top priorities for each of our constituencies. Be sure to respond to surveys when you receive them. When we hear from you, we can represent you well.

ACTIVIST TRAININGS

Keep an eye out for an announcement for our activist training this summer. For the past two years, we’ve held one-day boot camps for members who are interested in working with colleagues in TAUP to improve our lives and working conditions at Temple. If you are interested in attending this summer’s training, send your contact information to Abbey Bricker.

General Membership Meeting and End of the Year Party

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General Membership Meeting and End of Year Party

On Monday, April 30th, TAUP will hold a General Membership Meeting from 4-5pm at TLO Events, 1627 Cecil B Moore. We’ll introduce our new Constituency Council members, discuss current and  upcoming TAUP initiatives on child care, tuition benefits at other schools, job security, unemployment compensation, academic freedom and faculty governance, racial justice, and the football stadium, as well as the exciting work before us as we gear up for negotiations next year.  Then from 5pm onward we’ll have food and drinks and celebrate a year of strong union work and solidarity. We hope to see you there!