Today and from this moment forward, Juneteenth will be a paid holiday for TAUP’s staff, and no union business will be done.  But while it is only right that we celebrate this holiday–and it should be made a paid national holiday–this must be part of a broader, deeper, and effective movement for racial justice and the fight against Anti-Blackness.

That movement has to include change throughout Temple University, including within TAUP itself.

On June 6, TAUP issued a statement  urging Temple’s administration to take our students’ demands seriously, including those to stop funding the Philadelphia Police Foundation (PPF) and to stop non-essential work with the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD).  It is unacceptable that the administration did not engage in a dialogue with these students before rejecting their demands. The university needs to be transparent about what money flows from Temple (including our students’ tuition money) to the PPF and the PPD. Temple should not be providing any type of support that increases police militarization in our city and its communities.

After lengthy discussion and soliciting input from experts with differing perspectives, the Executive Committee (EC) has voted to support the students’ demands on the PPF and the PPD.  The EC believes we must listen closely to the Black, Indigenous and POC (BIPOC) throughout the campus and surrounding communities.  It is past time for fundamental reforms in how policing gets done in our country and in Philadelphia, including the neighborhoods where Temple is located but does not yet live in true partnership.

Divesting from the PPF and PPD are direct ways for the university to shift toward the changes that need to occur.  There are many ways that this funding could be redirected to improve safety.  As one member of the EC who has family in the PPD stated “It is about who is being protected and who is being policed.”

This is a small first step.  We must do much more. TAUP is:

•  Scheduling a meeting with the administration, as per our contract, of a joint committee to “discuss diversity related issues pertaining to all members of the bargaining unit.”

• Forming an active working group to analyze how the union can center racial justice in our fight for fair working conditions.  All TAUP members are invited to join us in this work.  Contact jsiegelaft@gmail.com

• In discussion with student leaders who are working for racial justice to see how we can support each others’ efforts.

• Identifying providers for anti-racism training for our union staff and members, to be scheduled by the end of the summer.

Today, our national union, AFT, has passed a resolution: “Confronting Racism and Supporting Black Lives,”  setting forth 19 commitments to racial justice.  TAUP will align our efforts with these commitments.

It will take all of us to do this work.  TAUP is eager for your ideas and initiatives.  Please contact TAUP if you want to get involved in these efforts.