When I woke up this morning I gathered up all my information and set to work. Well I did it!! I took it to my journalism teacher around 3pm, an hour before it was due, and she loved it! She said it was very well written and that I have a real talent for doing this! I couldn't believe she said that! It really made my day.
So I wanted to share with you the story. In no way is the information exciting... But I am proud of it. I'm pretty sure I will make it into the paper again, and maybe this time on the front page! ;)
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AAUP Invites Union Members to Speak for Improving Campus Working Conditions
10/26/2010
BY: DUSTIN SMITH
The American Association of University Professors has invited two United Campus Worker organizers from Middle Tennessee State University to speak at Tech this Monday.
The presentation is entitled “Take this Job and Love It.” Karly Safar, United Campus Workers organizer at the University of Tennessee, will present a brief history of the UCW, a union of close to 1,200 employees in public higher education across the state of Tennessee, highlight some of the victories the union has won, and also discuss what difficulties they will face in Summer 2011 when the stimulus funding runs out and the unions campaign goals for the upcoming year.
“For the past year I have been working full-time for the union.” said Safar. “We first got started at UT-Knoxville 10 years ago when campus workers, students, and community members organized to fight for a living wage, an hourly wage that allows one to live decently and take care of a family while working full-time.”
The living wage is calculated based on the actual cost of living factors in one’s particular city. From this campaign a union was formed, and has since spread to other campuses across Tennessee. UCW ensures that workers are paid decent wages and are guaranteed basic rights and respect at work.
“A focus of our work over the past two years of the economic recession has been to fight for funding for higher education to prevent layoffs and severe budget cuts that would hurt not only students and employees, but also the greater community and the state’s economy as a whole.” said Safar.
Rachel Kirk, MTSU UCW legislative committee chair, AAUP member, and MTSU librarian, will be addressing why it is important to engage in the political process, UCW’s support for and endorsement of pro-worker and pro-education candidates running for state house and senate seats, and some about their past fights and campaigns.
“We are inviting faculty, staff, and students because the event addresses changes in higher education being made by the state legislature that increasingly affects us all with little consideration being given to us,” said Josephine McQuail, professor of English and Tech chapter AAUP president. “Basically it is important for the campus community – all members of the campus community - to come together and develop a collective voice to have input in these decisions which affect us all. We need to be proactive not reactive!”
AAUP’s purpose, according to their website (www.aaup.org), is to advance academic freedom and shared governance, to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education, and to ensure higher education’s contribution to the common good. “The AAUP is concerned particularly in today’s climate to preserve tenure,” said McQuail.
“Take This Job and Love It” will take place in Henderson Hall 205 from 3 to 5:50 p.m. and is sponsored by the Tech chapter of the AAUP, the sociology and political science department, and the journalism department.
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I don't know why the last paragraph came out all funny like that. I can't figure out how to change it so it will just have to do. Anyway there is my story. If it's in the paper on Friday I will post a link.
Adios!!
-Mr. Smtih
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