AAUP ? - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Feb 5, 2005

AAUP ?

Date: Feb 5, 2005

We are not lobbying for unionizing in Mississippi. What we are doing is sending the requested information to AAUP national regarding an investigation. AAUP will not simply swoop in without a great deal of evidence pointing to serious matters of academic freedom, tenure, and shared governance.

From another thread concerning the post-tenure review policy, I'd like to say that if true, that the administration has submitted a different policy than the one faculty senate was clarifying, that we are indeed in great trouble at USM. But, we would also be completely out of step with every single other post-tenure review policy in our IHL system.

USM faculty, remember, AAUP USM has a committee that investigates matters of academic freedom, shared governance, and tenure. Feel free to contact me to file a complaint. These official complaints are the most important thing we have to send to national to call for an investigation.

From the COB thread, if it is true that Jay Grimes and those above are calling the shots with regard to research, this is an issue of ACADEMIC FREEDOM and will be taken very seriously by AAUP. Feel free to contact me.

Amy Young

Date: Feb 5, 2005

I recently joined AAUP as a graduate student which costs a mere $10 a year. It is more expensive, certainly, for faculty, but it escapes me why the membership of faculty is not greater. I urge every grad student at USM to join and show your support for our faculty. And, I urge those faculty who have not yet joined to consider it a top priority.

Date: Feb 5, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by: Amy Young
"We are not lobbying for unionizing in Mississippi.

Perhaps you should!! At least the administration would have to negotiate with faculty before making arbitrary decisions about terms and conditions of employment - "the wage and effort bargain."

Date: Feb 5, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Outside Observer
"Perhaps you should!! At least the administration would have to negotiate with faculty before making arbitrary decisions about terms and conditions of employment - "the wage and effort bargain.""

Mississippi is a "right to work" state. Unless there are overarching considerations -- such as those at Northrup Grummand Ship Systems -- that give unions an advantage, it is virtually impossible to successfully "lobby for unionization" in this state.

This is why Shelby called AAUP a "union" -- waving the bloody shirt. (It is arguable that the abysmal conditions that workers in Mississippi have historically "enjoyed" are directly related to the lack of union activity here.)

Anyway, if I understand it correctly, AAUP is a "union" only in the sense that some states have designated AAUP as a collective bargaining agent. If some bunch of polymer scientists in a "union state" had ever gotten AAAS recognized as their collective bargaining agent, then Shelby would probably have to call AAAS a "union."

Date: Feb 5, 2005

"Ain't A Union Polymerman" from Invictus maybe the funniest line ever on the website.

Date: Feb 5, 2005

Invictus,

To be precise, some chapters of the AAUP are unions. But the majority are not, and the national organization is not.

Robert Campbell

Date: Feb 5, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Password Postings
""Ain't A Union Polymerman" from Invictus maybe the funniest line ever on the website."

Yup. I ruined my keyboard when Invictus said that. And it's a good thing I didn't have any coffee this time, or it would have happened again. Thanks for the memory, PP.

Date: Feb 5, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: David Johnson
"I recently joined AAUP as a graduate student which costs a mere $10 a year. It is more expensive, certainly, for faculty, but it escapes me why the membership of faculty is not greater. I urge every grad student at USM to join and show your support for our faculty. And, I urge those faculty who have not yet joined to consider it a top priority."

Amen, brother.