Tag: job security

Sign the Petition to Ensure Academic Integrity, Jobs and Adequate Support for Students in the Fall

To deal responsibly with this crisis, we are demanding that the administration demonstrate its priorities by investing in education, not austerity.  As  we move forward, we need to ensure that Temple University continues to provide the high quality of education our students expect, and that it invests in working conditions that we need and deserve. Our latest contract campaign proved that collective action is going to be the only way to move the administration to preserve the educational quality of Temple University.

Sign the petition to support TAUPs list of demands

What we’re Demanding:

  • Temple must use some of its $340 million + reserves to absorb at least part of the deficit.
  • No layoffs or furloughs for members of TAUP’s Bargaining Unit.
  • Support faculty who have gone above and beyond to support students through the spring semester by:
    • Providing one-year contract extensions for Non-Tenure Track faculty up for renewal in addition to the contractually required minimums.
    • Creating a priority pool in the Fall of 2020 and the Spring of 2021 for adjuncts who have taught this term, giving them the right of first refusal for available classes, with no loss of union eligibility for missed semesters in academic year 2020-21.
    • Maintaining course caps at 2019-20 levels.
    • Not cancelling course sections that reach 50% enrollment or are required by students’ majors or degree programs.

We also call on Temple to:

  • Compensate  faculty for the exceptional amount of labor involved in converting to online instruction this term.
  • Offer childcare/eldercare to faculty and staff who need it to perform their job during the pandemic.
  • Ensure that faculty retain intellectual property rights to the course materials they have created and put online.

In Solidarity,

Steve Newman, President

Leanne Finnigan, Vice President

Norma Corrales-Martin, Treasurer

Town Hall 4/20 and Our Principles Moving Forward

Our weekly Town Hall will be held on 04/20
from 4pm-5pm, RSVP here.

We will be discussing any new developments in the administration’s request for a raise cut for full-time members for 2020-21.  We will also discuss our list of demands for the administration  that we’ve developed through listening to your questions, concerns and suggestions at our Town Halls, including:

  • the need for Temple to spend its ample reserves to help fill any projected deficit
  •  job security for ALL members, full-time and part-time:  NO LAYOFFS or FURLOUGHS
  •  fair working conditions:  compensation for extra labor, intellectual property protections, and help with childcare/eldercare

We will be discussing these demands with the administration tomorrow afternoon and will be updating you on those conversations and seeking your feedback and ideas.

The demands we are putting forth will ensure that we can offer students the support they will need and deserve in the upcoming academic year.  They will demonstrate that Temple understands and appreciates the extraordinary work that has been done this term. There is no question that the administration has the ability to meet these demands. Librarians, Academic Professionals, and Faculty are the backbone of this university; now, more than ever, Temple’s financial priorities must reflect that they are investing in quality education as a top priority, not austerity.

These town halls are a critical space for information sharing as well as for building power. It has never been more crucial to join together to push back against unfair policies and advocate for fair working conditions and the prioritization of the quality of our students’ education in the midst of this crisis.

Questions and answers from past town halls are being posted here.

Be sure to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have.

In Solidarity,

Steve Newman, President

Leanne Finnigan, Vice President

Norma Corrales-Martin, Treasurer

Unemployment Compensation:  Are You (or a Colleague You Care About) Eligible?

Unemployment Compensation is a benefit that we are all taxed for when we are working, and it is one you deserve to use if you are eligible.

If you find yourself in a situation where you suffer a significant drop in pay due to no fault of your own, you may be eligible to receive partial or full unemployment compensation to help you bridge employment gaps.

TAUP offers Unemployment Compensation (UC) workshops that you can participate in either via a video conference, conference call, or in person. These 90 minute workshops are designed to offer an understanding of:

  • the overall UC system and how it works
  • what makes someone eligible or ineligible to collect
  • the process of applying, questions you will be asked and information you will need to have on hand
  • what you need to do to maintain your eligibility while collecting UC
  • what to do if you are initially denied benefits that you believe you are entitled to
You may be eligible to collect UC if:
  • you have suffered a 10% drop in your gross pay from all income sources through no fault of your own (ex: you were not fired, did not refuse work that was offered to you)
  • you may be eligible to collect partial UC benefits even if you have some work, but are working less and experience a similar drop in pay
TAUP will be offering UC Workshops starting this weekend by phone or video conference.  RSVP to taupucworkshops@gmail.com

Please mention the workshop below that fits with your schedule, if you would prefer to attend via a phone or video conference, and your phone number or preferred email to send a link.

You will need to be at a computer or other device where you can view a presentation that will be sent to you.

UC Workshop Schedule
Saturday, December 14th
Noon – 1:30pm
7:30-9pm

Sunday, December 15th
3:30 – 5pm

Questions? Contact taupucworkshops@gmail.com