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 this 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.--

TAUP

Temple Association of University Professionals
1900 N 13th Street
Barton Hall Room A231
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6013
Phone: 215.763.2287 or 215.204.7641
Fax: 215.204.7645
email: taupaft@aol.com
web site: www.taup.org