The UT-AAUP held a membership meeting last Friday, September 15, 2023. A vote was held on whether the UT-AAUP will picket or not. The vote was 90% in favor.
We are conducting a second vote online at our UT-AAUP website (utaaup.com). If you voted at the meeting, please vote again. We have added abstain as a choice. We have also asked for other information. Use your Rocket# in this format, R00000000, as both the voter identifier and the voter key to cast your vote. Only dues paying members can vote on the website. If you are not a member, please consider joining. We need your support.
This is an informational picketing and is not a strike. The UT-AAUP cannot legally strike because we are still under contract even as we negotiate.
This picketing will not include the on-going write-ups and disciplinary proceedings against faculty. This picketing is to save the UT academic mission for our students. The Schroeder Administration is focused on cutting programs and faculty but not Administration. Schroeder appears to be following the West Virginia model where President Gee is cutting programs and faculty, but Gee has openly said there will be increases, not decreases in Administration.
Our picketing message will be “cut administration, not academics and staff”. Matt Schroder has cut academic budgets so deeply that he has endangered the academic mission of the University. He has proposed $17 million in new cuts for the colleges (not the Medical School).
The picketing will be in front of UHall on Bancroft and at Welltower where the BOT is meeting. This will be informational picketing not a demonstration. It will be orderly. We will not block access and will distribute a one-page position paper opposing further academic cuts.
The Board of Trustees has changed its meeting time from 1:00p.m. to 9:00a.m. at Welltower. We will picket there from 8:30a.m. to 10:30a.m. and in front of UHall from noon to 2:00p.m. We need representation at both locations.
Signs are being prepared. We need a headcount. Please email staff.utaaup@gmail.com if you are willing to picket in front of UHall or Welltower.
UT-AAUP Executive Board