Print

E-mail

The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO in January called on Temple University alumni and organizations to withhold donations to the school until labor agreements have been reached with its unionized employees.

The university withdrew a contract offer to the faculty in mid-January after months of contract talks and plans to submit a cheaper proposal while continuing with its capital spending on new buildings.

“We’re convinced that they simply don’t want to divert their money from their cherished projects to pay their faculty,” Arthur Hochner, president of the Temple Association of University Professionals, an AFT Local, told the Inquirer recently. Read the article in the Philadelphia Inquirer at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/37699014.html

The AFL-CIO is asking donors not only to withhold financial contributions until new contracts have been approved but to write to the administration and let them know why! Sample language to cut and paste into an email is available at aftpa.org and below. Please email your letters to president@temple.edu with a copy to taupaft@aol.com.

Dear President Hart:

I recently received a message from Temple University asking for a financial contribution. I cannot consider making such a contribution until you have reached contract agreements with TAUP, AFT Local 4531, which has been working without a contract since Oct. 15, 2008, and AFSCME, Local 1723, which has worked without a contract since October 2007! I would like to support Temple but I must support the rights of all workers to a fair contract. Feel free to ask again when those goals have been met.

The PFT supports the employees of Temple University in their struggle for a fair contact and urges its members to withhold donations until settlements are reached.

The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO resolution:

WHEREAS AFSCME Local 1723 has been without a contract at Temple University since October of 2007; and

WHEREAS AFT Local 4531 has been without a contract at Temple University since October of 2008; and

WHEREAS Temple University has shown an unwillingness to respond to calls from the labor movement to move forward and negotiate a fair contract for both unions; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED that the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO call upon its members to withhold alumni and organizational donations to Temple University until contracts for both AFSCME Local 1723 and AFT Local 4531 have been settled; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO ask those members who withhold donations to communicate to Temple University the reasons for their decision; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to AFSCME Local 1723; AFT Local 4531; and Temple University.