Category: events

Negotiations Begin TOMORROW, April 18! Join Us.

Now that procedural issues have been resolved (see below), negotiations between TAUP and the administration will begin tomorrow from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at TUCC.

We are engaging in Open Bargaining for the first time in our union’s history. All members of the Bargaining Unit, regardless of TAUP membership, are invited to witness the negotiations and to engage with the table team during breaks.  Open Bargaining promotes transparency and accountability and it gives each of our members a chance to show their solidarity for the work that TAUP is doing to improve salaries, benefits and working conditions for faculty, librarians and academic professionals.  Your presence gives the table team increased power at the table as they work toward achieving common goals and individual priorities.  Your participation is needed to ensure robust attendance at bargaining sessions.

 

If you are interested in attending Thursday’s session, please contact the TAUP Office, taupaft@gmail.com. Once the room we’ll be bargaining in is confirmed,  we can let you know where to meet. Attendees should plan to arrive at 1:30 p.m. to learn about Open Bargaining and how it works, as well as the role you can play as an observer.  If you would like to attend tomorrow but cannot make it by 1:30, let us know when you plan to arrive. We’ll fill you in on the rules which govern the process.

 

Laying the groundwork for an early settlement

Early in the term, the administration asked TAUP to consider an early settlement–that is, reaching an agreement well before our contract expires on October 15. We decided, for many reasons, that this could be in the best interest of our members, and that it was worth pursuing.

 

Since then, the two sides have been working to come to agreement on the issues we will be negotiating, including how they will be discussed.  We are happy to have found our way to a mutual agreement with the administration, so we can begin our work at the table.

 

The administration initially proposed that we limit bargaining topics to wages and benefits. TAUP proposed that job stability, child care, and tuition benefits at other schools be included, and the administration agreed.

 

We have also reached agreement on parallel processes for other issues important to our members.  This does not mean that we have settled these issues but rather that we will now begin meeting to find contract language to solve them:

  • defining who in the library should be in the bargaining unit and how librarians can be promoted to the highest level;

  • adding a fact-finding step to the grievance process;

  • finding a way for adjuncts to meet 1:1 with students and to have access to photocopying and other resources;

  • addressing  concerns around workload;

  • addressing concerns related to diversity.

 

On the first three issues (librarians, grievances, resources for adjuncts), teams from the administration and TAUP will work together until September 1st to see what they can come to agreement on and add to our contract.  If the teams are unable to agree, then the relevant article of the contract will be re-opened for formal bargaining.  TAUP will benefit from having members with expertise in these three areas involved in the discussions. Please contact the TAUP office tapuaft@gmail.com if you are interested in being considered for one of these teams.

 

On workload, the parties have agreed to form a Labor-Management Committee that would meet at the end of the Spring semester to identify, clarify , and, if appropriate, propose solutions to concerns over workload. TAUP reserves the right to file grievances on workload as per the contract.

 

To address diversity, the parties have agreed to activate the administration-TAUP committee provided for in the current contract within 6 months of ratifying the new contract. Again, we know that members of our bargaining unit have expertise that will be critical to these discussions. Please contact our office tapuaft@gmail.com if you would be willing to join our team to push for greater progress in the University’s diversity efforts.

 

The deadline for reaching early settlement is June 30th with extensions if agreed to by both parties.  If the parties do not agree to a settlement by that date, then the entire contract will be up for negotiation.  The parties may decide to retain the agreements they had reached during the early settlement process but are not obliged to, and additional issues will be brought to the table.

 

Early settlement means that negotiations will be unusually intense, so it’s particularly important that our members pay attention to communications from TAUP, communicate with us,  and participate in Open Bargaining, our May 1 noon rally, and other events. We look forward to seeing you, hearing from you, and benefiting from your expertise and presence in bargaining.

 

Negotiations Update 

TUESDAY NEGOTIATION SESSION CANCELLED: THURSDAY IS ON!

Unfortunately, a personal emergency has forced the sides to delay of the first negotiating session to Thursday, April 18th from 2:00-5:00 at Temple University Center City, room to be determined.  While there is still one outstanding issue for the administration to respond to in order to settle on the process, we anticipate that it will be resolved, so we are looking forward to sitting down with the administration on Thursday.

We are engaging in Open Bargaining for the first time in our union’s history. All members of the Bargaining Unit, regardless of TAUP membership, are invited to witness the negotiations and to engage with the table team during breaks.  Open Bargaining promotes transparency and accountability and shows solidarity among TAUP’s faculty, librarians and academic professionals which gives us the power to achieve common priorities.  To do this, we need your participation to ensure robust attendance at each session.

If you are interested in attending Thursday’s session, please contact the TAUP Office, taupaft@gmail.com so we can reach out to  you once the room is confirmed.  Please plan to arrive at 1:30 p.m. to learn about your role in Open Bargaining and the rules that govern the process.

 

RALLY: May 1, Noon-1pm at the Bell Tower

Before the semester ends, you’re also invited to make time to show your support for the work your TAUP colleagues have been doing, and meet with union leaders and activists to discuss the issues that we are fighting to make progress on.  Join us on Wednesday, May 1st at the Bell Tower from Noon – 1pm, to show Temple that whether or not you are able to show up for a bargaining session or not, you support TAUP’s work at the table.  If you can come plan to join us, please rsvp here .

 

Unemployment Compensation Workshops

TAUP members can collect Unemployment Compensation over the summer to cover basic costs during the break, or even for the upcoming year.

You may be eligible if:

  • You have been told that you will not be working in the fall, due to no fault of your own (ex: you didn’t quit, were not fired, etc.)
  • If you will be working fewer hours / teaching fewer courses in the fall than this term
  • If you’ve been told that you’ll be teaching in the fall, but there is a good chance that the course you’ve been offered will not run.

TAUP offers 90 minute workshops to help our members:

  • Understand Unemployment Compensation and how it works
  • Assess their eligibility
  • Understand key terms, concepts and questions that are used in the process
  • Fill out UC applications as accurately as possible

If you would like to attend a workshop, please fill out this form with your availability.

If you have any questions, contact Jennie Shanker at jshanker1@gmail.com

 

Childcare

Do you know an undergraduate student who needs help paying for child care?  The US Department of Education has provided four years of funding to our colleague Annemarie Hindman in the School of Ed that will pay full childcare costs for undergraduate students on Pell Grants.  Please announce this to your classes and share with any undergrad students who might need child care.  Advise students that this child care will be available for the next 3 years, but there are limited slots. Students need to contact Dr. Hindman as soon as possible.

 

 

TAUP Digest 4/8-4/12/2019

Negotiations Update: Close to Setting Dates

 

TAUP and the administration have made significant progress in agreeing to a process for negotiations; there is only one outstanding issue, and we are hopeful it can be resolved as we await a reply from the administration.  We are therefore close to setting dates and will let you know the time and place as soon they are confirmed.  Our hope is that we will sit down together within two weeks.

 

Once bargaining does begin, we will need you, our members, to pay close attention to our communications from the table, to calls to attend events.  We will need you to communicate with us, and to come to witness negotiations when you can.  When the administration sees members supporting their colleagues in union work,  we will be in a good position to win the contract we deserve.  Let TAUP know if you want to get more involved in our Contract Campaign, Organizing, or Data Teams. 

 

Save the Date:  Rally for a Fair Contract May 1, Bell Tower, noon-1:00 p.m.!

 

We’ll be gathering on Wednesday, May 1st at the Bell Tower from noon-1:00 p.m. to rally for a fair contract.  Speakers will include members of TAUP and other unions as well as legislators.  Come support our vision for Temple!   (Rain site: 217D in the Howard Gittis Student Center)

 

 

Tentative Agreements Reached at CCP and Arcadia

 

We are happy to report that the Faculty and Staff Federation of the Community College of Philadelphia (AFT 2026) and the adjunct union at Arcadia, affiliated with United Academics of Philadelphia (AFT 9608) have both recently signed Tentative Agreements.  Both are the result of YEARS of determined bargaining and solidarity, and we salute our sister unions and hope for a speedy and smooth ratification! 

 

Faculty Voices

This week’s faculty voice comes from another local institution. Daniel Pieczkolon teaches at Arcadia University and has been a leader in their successful effort to unionize. Daniel spoke at TAUP’s Campaign Kick-Off event in March about the power of solidarity across local higher ed institutions.

 

Thank you to Abbey Bricker, Organizer Extraordinaire!

Last week, we bid farewell to our wonderful staff organizer, Abbey Bricker, who has taken a job with SEIU in Ohio.  For two years, Abbey did a fantastic job helping to move our union to a more activist organizing model.  She trained a large cohort of activists who will be able to continue this work in her absence and helped install our current system of Departmental Organizers. She was a joy to work with, and we wish her the best in her new job, continuing the fight for fair working conditions and the dignity of labor.  TAUP is now searching for a new staff organizer and will keep you posted.

 

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.