July 2, 2009
Stop the Budget Cuts!
Thank you to all who have sent emails to the Governor, and your Senator, and Representative asking them to “Stop the Budget Cuts” in higher education. Governor Rendell has proposed budget cuts that have a direct effect on Temple University, the students and you! TAUP needs your help to send a message to Harrisburg protesting the cuts.
If you not had a chance to send the emails before now, there is still plenty of time to add your voice to the chorus of educators working in higher education.
Please click on the link below to make your voice heard NOW:
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/taup
June 18, 2009
Patrick J. O'Connor Confirmed as New Chairman of Temple University Board of Trustees
TAUP offers its congratulations to Patrick J. O'Connor for his confirmation on June 18 as the new chairman of the Temple University Board of Trustees. Mr. O'Connor was nominated due to the resignation of Daniel Polett earlier this month.
Mr O'Conner is a partner at the Philadelphia law firm of Cozen O'Connor. He has served on the Temple Board of Trustees for more than 20 years.
TAUP President Art Hochner immediately sent a congratulatory letter to Mr. O'Connor, reaching out to the new chairman with the goal of developing a positive working relationship for the betterment of Temple University.
Hochner wrote that he is eager to meet with Mr. O'Connor so they can get to know each other and exchange ideas.
May 29, 2009
PROTEST TEMPLE ’S LAYOFFS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3
NOON TO 1
GATHER AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF RITTENHOUSE SQUARE
AT 19TH ST. INTERSECTION
Please join TAUP and AFSCME Local 1723 as we express our anger at last week’s cruel firing of a number of AFSCME employees. Temple's administration chose to implement its most nefarious union-busting action to date after most students and faculty were gone from the campus.
We will hold a protest rally near President Ann Weaver Hart's Temple-provided residence on the south side of Rittenhouse Square. Tell your colleagues, bring our friends.
Temple can do better!
FACT:Nineteen employees from the AFSCME local 1723 bargaining unit in the College of Liberal Arts and other campus locations were suddenly fired.
FACT: Dedicated employees were escorted out of their building by security guards, and locks to their offices were changed.
FACT: There was NO faculty input despite the impact on academic departments.
Read The Chronicle of Higher Education’s 5/29 coverage: http://chronicle.com/news/article/6558/faculty-members-and-union-protest-staff-ayoffs-at-temple-u-as-cruel
May 29, 2009
AFSCME & TAUP CRITICIZE
CLA FIRINGS
Temple AFSCME Local 1723 and TAUP join in condemning the recent inhumane and hastily executed actions by Temple management against a group of employees in the AFSCME bargaining unit. Nineteen employees in CLA and other campus locations were suddenly fired last week. They were informed that their jobs were being terminated. Some were told they could apply for newly classified positions outside AFSCME, but they were not guaranteed placement. According to information we have received, ten have lost their jobs completely. Long-term employees were escorted out of their building by security guards, and locks to their offices were changed. This is a heartless way, especially in the midst of a recession, to treat dedicated workers.
Is this the kind of treatment we expect from Temple? The decisions affect many departments, yet department chairs were apparently only informed about the decision. Despite the potential impacts on students and departmental functioning, there was a lack of faculty input and shared governance. Although his situation does not directly impact on TAUP’s contract, it affects staff who work closely with the faculty and facilitate their work and who deal with student concerns.
At a time that Temple is receiving federal stimulus funds – appropriated to help save jobs in this deep recession – we would like to know why long-term employees are treated so shabbily.
AFSCME is continuing to gather information about these actions. TAUP and AFSCME together call on Temple’s management to fulfill their contractual and legal obligations to their employees. We shall continue to keep you informed.
Temple Can Do Better.
