Solidarity

Community support has been critical to our successive wins these last several months, and without you behind us at every step, Burgerville Workers Union would not have been able to accomplish all that we have. Since we filed for elections with the NLRB and won with overwhelming majorities at 2 locations this spring, we’ve been engaged in negotiations with Burgerville for our first contract. Negotiations have been tough as Burgerville has met even our simplest proposals with resistance, but we’re more determined than ever to continue putting pressure on the company to do right by their workers. While Burgerville promised…

The AAUP joined this week with other groups, including members of the California Community College System, in filing an amicus brief in support of a permanent injunction against a Trump administration executive order that sought to strip federal funding from “sanctuary jurisdictions.” The lawsuit resulting in the injunction was filed by the city of San Francisco. The AAUP’s interest in the case stems from the potential application of the executive order to colleges and universities. Such an extension would negatively impact colleges’ and universities’ ability to carry out their public mission and their interests in developing a diverse student body. Allowing the…

In the newest issue of Academe, two professors share how their AAUP chapter responded to violence on campus. “What can AAUP chapters do? We can watch for, notice, track, and respond to incidents of harassment or violence as they occur on our campuses. While individual students and their associations have some power to get the attention of administrators and outside authorities, their voices are amplified if we join them.” Read more here.

In response to the conditions in Puerto Rico—especially the water crisis—the AFT launched Operation Agua, a collaboration with Operation Blessing, AFSCME, the Hispanic Federation and the Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico. Operation Agua’s initial goal is to purchase and distribute 100,000 individual water filtration systems for households and classrooms, and 50 large-capacity clean-water devices to a network of nonprofit organizations, union offices, schools, and other community-based groups to provide stable and reliable sources of safe water. A single $30 contribution provides an in-home purifier that requires no electricity and provides more than 10 gallons of safe water per day to a family. And $5,000 delivers a disinfectant generator that…

At our membership meeting on October 23, UA members and family celebrated the ratification of our recent contract extension and engaged a host of other timely issues. At the recommendation of faculty with family in Puerto Rico, Professors Cecilia Enjuto-Rangel (Romance Languages), Alaí Reyes-Santos (Ethnic Studies), and Rocío Zambrana (Philosophy), we devoted space in our meeting (over dinner and drinks) to a silent auction and donations. Two prints from Puerto Rico’s beloved artist, Antonio Martorell, were auctioned alongside other donated items. Students from Professor Reyes-Santos’ class explained why they are raising money for a service project in Puerto Rico –…

As faculty with family in Puerto Rico, we recommend a focused fundraiser for ISER Caribe. Here is also a helpful list of local organizations. Among other topics at our membership meeting, we will hear from Professor Alaí Reyes-Santos who is organizing a delegation of students for a trip to Puerto Rico. The pedagogical goals are: To engage the ethical issues raised by the current crisis in Puerto Rico through documentation and relief efforts in affected areas. Deepen our understanding of what digital humanities research can provide to address issues of racial, economic and environmental justice through documentation and distribution of…

Rally for Respect, Dignity, and a Fair Contract. Lane County Workers need your help! After nine months of negotiations, we are still without a contract. Those who are people of Faith, believe in social justice, and Union brothers and sisters, WE NEED YOU! We are standing up against an economic attack on our community and need you standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us. Come support the Workers of Lane County Local 2831. Monday, September 18 at 12 PM – 1 PM Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza Facebook Event

The 2017 AFL-CIO Summer School will focus on how we strengthen unions and build a united movement at a time of growing divisions in the country. Join us for engaging classes and plenary discussions of the challenges facing Oregon workers and what it takes to build a fair economy. AUG 4-6, 2017 University of Oregon campus in Eugene, OR New this year: Tools for fighting for change (while significant portions of our membership are under renewed attack); building unity across the “political divide” – finding ways to unite members who disagree on politics; and learning how unions can organize and…

2017 Summer Institute The 2017 AAUP/AAUP-CBC Summer Institute is coming to University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. From July 27 to July 30, more than two hundred other higher education professionals from around the country will gather for four days of exciting workshops and special programs. We bring in organizers, data analysts, seasoned campaigners, and issue experts to build your skills as an advocate for AAUP principles, collective bargaining, and higher education. Summer Institute Scholarships for Faculty of Color As part of an ongoing commitment to building diverse leadership in chapters and at the national level, the AAUP-CBC has set aside…