Wish Me Luck....For Tomorrow I Shall Be in Jail

[readmoreoften]

Hey DUers,

It's Readmore. As some of you might know, I'm a teaching assistant at NYU and I've been on strike for almost six months now. We've been fighting for the right to keep our labor union. Before we had a union, we made $5,000 to $10,000 a year with little or no benefits and no grievance procedure against our employer. After a union contract we made $19,000 with health benefits, tuition benefits, and binding arbitration. Under Clinton labor appointees, the National Labor Relations Board unanimously (both dems and repubs) agreed that we had the right to unionize. But the Bush Administration's appointees reversed all that. They say that we're not *really* workers, and that our employer doesn't have to recognize our union.

A little about my job...

As a so-called "teaching assistant", I wrote my own syllabi, taught my own classes, graded my students' papers, and held office hours. I did the same damn job as every other teacher on the planet. The only teacher I ever "assisted" was myself. Over fifty percent of undergraduate classes at NYU are taught by teaching assistants. (The other 20-30% are taught by grossly underpaid adjuncts-- the job that awaits many of us upon graduation.)

A little about the job I no longer have...

While there are about 1000 people in our bargaining unit, and a little under half went out on strike originally, only 19 strikers have been penalized. I have lost my wages for the spring semester. They contend that I will not continue to be blacklisted, but sources tell me that this is untrue. If I am not reappointed to my position in the fall, I will lose my health care, tuition benefits, and salary for the entire year of 2006-2007. I will lose my all of this whether or not we continue to strike.

A little about why I can't "just transfer to a public school" to finish my degree.

There are often only a handful of people working in our particular specialty. The people we're working with are invested in our careers, and are often highly specialized. In my case, it would make more sense to drop out of my school altogether than to transfer.

A little about why it could matter to you...

You know, our strike probably won't effect you. It's a tiny struggle against the gross outrages of the Bush administration. But I wonder... If I'm not a worker, what's the next category of people who aren't "workers"? If we aren't workers because we are supposedly being "trained"? (And, by the way, the majority of us only get one day of training a year...and exactly how many years do you have to teach "Spanish I" before it's actually work and not just training. Two years? Five?)

And who are the next category of workers who will be suddenly judged to be "not-workers"? The NLRB said we're not workers because we receive "some amount of coaching". How many people receive "some amount of coaching" on the job? Should they lose their right to unionize, too?

Why I'm going to jail tomorrow...

Well, I'm speaking at a rally and then I'm going to be arrested along with about 50-60 others. From what I understand, a letter of support from Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton will be presented (Eliot Spitzer and John Edwards have already written letters.) Sometimes you have to do what you have to do...

How you can help us:

I'm really hoping that DUers can help me turn up the heat and force NYU to stop acting like the Walmart of education. If you want to help, here are some things you can do:

1) If you see a thread about the TA strike at NYU, keep it K&R'd.
2) Write the president of NYU at [e-mail]. Flood his inbox with your indignation.
Better yet, don't forget to call him at: Tel: [phone]
And don't forget the outrageous unionbusting dean of the arts and sciences: Catharine Stimpson [e-mail]
You can call her, too: Tel: [phone]
And Dean Foley: [e-mail]
His number is: Tel: [phone]

3) If you are an NYU Alumni, write them and tell them that you refuse to donate unless they negotiate with GSOC (our union).
4) If you know undergrads at NYU, explain to them why unions are important. Hell, explain that to everyone.
5) Write letters to Hillary, Chuck Schumer, and Jerry Nadler. Ask them to get more involved. We've been on strike for six months, for christsake!
6) If you're the parent of an NYU student, please tell them to negotiate. The thing NYU cares about most is your money.
7) If you're a union member, please tell your union brothers and sisters about our struggle.
8) If you want to know more about our strike, including how to donate to the strike hardship fund (our local is supporting the rents and telephone bills and health bills of 19 strikers in NYC...that's a lot of damn hardship.) http://www.2110uaw.org/helpGSOC.htm
9) Tell media to cover our story. MSM would help.
10) If you can't do anything of these things, a note of support that I could take back to my fellow strikers would be a beautiful gesture of solidarity.

Thanks for reading my post. I know it's not Iran or Iraq or MIHOP/LIHOP or Vote Fraud or any of the other EGREGRIOUS ATROCITIES this administration commits daily. It's only a tiny part of the picture, but I'm going to fight for it because it's the tiny part that landed right in my lap. If you all could help me out, I'd really be indebted.

Wish me luck! I'll be in the clink!

--readmore

[Erika]

1. W has brought nothing but discord

How I wish the Bushbots had a brain when they voted.

[kevinmc]

2. In Solidarity ..... n/t

[Maddy McCall]

3. Best of luck, Readmore.

:thumbsup:

I'm going to research and read more on your university.

[rodeodance]

4. I had a similar situation--thought I was a 'worker' but management decided

I was a manager because I was 'in charge'(only occassionally) of other nurses. NLRB agreed.

[Downtown Hound]

5. Good luck and stay strong!

[EFerrari]

6. You got it. K&R. Without grad instructors, our universities

would have to shut down.

:hug:

:kick:

[Hissyspit]

16. And more & more everyday, adjunct faculty,

who often get screwed in various ways, as well. No medical coverage, etc.

[EFerrari]

19. The most talented English poetry teacher at Berkeley when I was

there was a lecturer. I can't imagine what those years would have been like without him.



Thom Gunn, the British-born poet who made San Francisco his home for 40 years, and wrote poems that combined mastery of form with a contemporary frankness and subject matter, died Sunday night in San Francisco. He was 74.

Mr. Gunn died in his sleep at home and was discovered at 9 p.m., said his partner of 52 years, Mike Kitay. "I'm thinking it was probably a heart attack, " Kitay said, "but the medical examiner won't know the cause of death for weeks."

Members of the literary community reacted yesterday with shock at Mr. Gunn's sudden death. "I thought he was possibly the best living poet in English," said Wendy Lesser, an author and editor of the literary journal the Threepenny Review. "Unlike most poets, he was equally at home in rhyme and non- rhyme, in free verse and patterned rhythms. He had a quiet, modest, almost impersonal voice as a poet, but every poem he wrote was recognizably his -- and his poems about death, particularly about deaths from AIDS, are masterpieces."


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/04/28/BAGR86C6T91.DTL

[DanCa]

7. Best possible white light to you my friend

:hug: If you need anything please let me know. In the meantime I will be sending you all the positive energy that I can. :hug:

[incapsulated]

8. You have my support, readmore...

I know this has been a long fight for you guys. Good luck to you.

[Robbien]

9. Sent email to the NYU president.

Sending good wishes your way.

[ugarte]

10. NYU is a cheap-ass school. I know for a fact their financial aid sucks

and obviously they stiff their faculty, too, although they are not alone. So many colleges are going with temps and fewer tenure tracks.

Best of luck. I will e-mail the people you have posted.

[trogdor]

54. Oh, and how much a year does it cost to go there?

It's not exactly a SUNY school, is it?

[me b zola]

11. We're all in this together.

:grouphug:

[NVMojo]

12. Shame on NYU!!! This is despicable! $19,000. a year is still poverty

[Hippo_Tron]

67. Especially with the cost of living in New York

[kevinmc]

13. The Scab by Jack London, (1876-1916)

After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, and the vampire, he had some awful substance left with which he made a scab.

A scab is a two-legged animal with a corkscrew soul, a water brain, a combination backbone of jelly and glue.

Where others have hearts, he carries a tumor of rotten principles.

When a scab comes down the street, men turn their backs and angels weep in heaven, and the devil shuts the gates of hell to keep him out.

No man (or woman) has a right to scab so long as there is a pool of water to drown his carcass in, or a rope long enough to hang his body with.

Judas was a gentleman compared with a scab. For betraying his master, he had character enough to hang himself. A scab has not.

Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage.

Judas sold his Savior for thirty pieces of silver.

Benedict Arnold sold his country for a promise of a commision in the british army.

The scab sells his birthright, country, his wife, his children and his fellowmen for an unfulfilled promise from his employer.

Esau was a traitor to himself; Judas was a traitor to his God; Benedict Arnold was a traitor to his country.

A scab is a traitor to his God, his country, his family and his class.

[readmoreoften]

14. Whoa.

That is amazing. Whoa. So I guess I wasn't being too harsh!

[readmoreoften]

15. I can't believe so many of you have posted so quickly! Thanks in advance!

When I get out of jail tomorrow night, I'm going to print these out and share them with our union. I'll respond when I get the chance. I have to get to sleep now, though. I promise I'll respond to everyone later.

DU is amazing. Amazing people. (He, he...I should start a thread that says. "That's it. I've Had Enough, DU. I'm Stayin'!")

[Synnical]

17. Major Kick n/t

[Oversea Visitor]

18. Eeh aaaah

Hmmm
Support you troop
Support the WAR on Education
Not child left behind
Need to have skill set to be competitive
Need better education

GUESS WHAT HE LIE LIE LIE

[bluestateguy]

20. I support you and your cause, but with one caveat

The bigger problem, and it goes beyond your legitimate grievances with NYU, is the adjunctification of the academy: turning over teaching responsibilities to adjuncts (who are often worse paid than graduate student TA's) and graduate assistants. Then when tenured professors retire universities often replace them with adjunct professors.

Unionization of graduate TA's and adjuncts can raise wages and benefits The NLRB's decision last year was outrageous and incomprehensible. My concern, however, is that unionization of these workers will only institutionalize and further legitimize the use of adjunct and graduate assistant labor top teach classes, which is what we pay professors to do. Nor is it healthy for undergraduate students to get their education this way.

Of course another problem, and again, it goes beyond your legitimate grievances with NYU, is that there are just too many graduate students in some fields and a lot of mediocre universities give PhD's that probably should not do so. In the humanities this problem is especially bad where far too many PhD's are turned out for only a few tenure track jobs in the academy, resulting in more adjuncts, who are desperate for work while they endlessly look for tenure track employment. If schools would reduce their graduate programs in fields where the job market is tight, this problem of graduate assistant exploitation would not be as severe. If you create oversupply of graduate students then you make it easier for universities to pull this kind of shit. It might be a good idea for the union to address this issue. But would a graduate student union really lobby for fewer graduate students?

[readmoreoften]

22. I'll respond more later but for now...

I agree 110%. Our union heartily supports adjuncts. Hell, most of us are adjuncts already. We oppose the "adjunctification" of the university. We're pushing for more benefits for all of us so that we're less attractive as "poverty workers." As a labor union we can't tell the university how many students to bring in. (They really frown on that "meddling in academic affairs" stuff.)

BUT we can sort of do it backwards. We can demand living wages and good pay and benefits for adjuncts...making them less attractive. We can demand good working conditions for TAs with much higher pay. If they had to pay us real wages for the work we do, then they'll want less of us. Eventually, I hope they'll realize... "we have to pay $50K a year for a prof and we're paying $35K a year for an adjunct. Maybe we should just bite it and actually hire REAL teachers and then brag about it in our brochure."

I do agree with you, though. There are too many grad students. In many fields, graduate education is becoming a tremendous scam. For instance, if you don't get into an MFA or Ph.D. program at NYU, a certain unfunded MA program in the humanities immediately solicits you and tries to sell you a bridge. They act like this unfunded program is a "foot in the door." 9 times out of 10 it leads nowhere. I've met people who have wasted $90,000 on this program. It's a horrible scam.

[Bill McBlueState]

49. my grad union agrees with you

I'm a member of the Graduate Employee Union at UMass. In addition to bargaining for better wages and benefits for ourselves, we've also been vocal supporters of a plan to hire 250 more faculty at UMass in the next ten years. Yes, the need for TAs will go down if there are more professors, but we're willing to play both sides of the issue. More tenured faculty and better working conditions for all employees are both important to the success of higher education.

[faithnotgreed]

21. all our best to you and everyone fighting

hope to hear an update with positive movement

[renate]

23. your courage reminds me of the civil rights movement and of Gandhi

Knowing what is coming and doing it anyway... the most unforgettable, tear-jerking scene to me from "Gandhi" is when the Salt March protesters line up to face the police, knowing they'll get whacked--they're whacked--and the others behind them step up to take their place....

I hope that this doesn't actually happen to you (either arrest or whacking), but the courage required is the same. Good luck to all of you.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

24. NYU hits you very hard in...

...the pocketbook and I believe your counter strategies should be built around trying to do the same to them. I don't know where all of their revenue comes from but I presume a very healthy portion comes from the parents of the student body. I think they'd be a good target audience if you can find an effective means of reaching them.

Can you get access to NYU financial data and reports? This could be used as the raw material for compelling written and spoken presentations detailing what NYU takes in and how they spend it. Show the parents, with NYU's own data, how misguided their priorities are. What do they pay the President, Board of Trustees, Groundskeepers, Campus Cops, and other employees compared to the people on the front lines doing the single most important thing that goes on at any university, the actual teaching? What kinds of ridiculous and unjustified expenditures do they make? Compare their annual budget for what they call "teaching assistants" to anything and everything they spend considerably more money on, but that is obviously considerably less important than the contribution made by "teaching assistants."

I know putting something like this together takes time and research, but done right, and distributed widely to those NYU relies on for the biggest chunk of their revenue stream, might have some effect. Also, the knowledge that this kind of planning and organizing to hit NYU where they live, in the pocketbook, might inspire administrators to take notice and consider renewing good faith negotiations.

Good luck. I wish you the best.

[KT2000]

25. of course you are a worker

we live in the age of loopholes through which the few are trying to get something for nothing. Good for you for standing up to this kind of crap.
Really do hope you don't have to go to jail though.

[ClayZ]

26. May the force be with you! Big K and R

:kick:

[Neil Lisst]

27. good luck

[Tigress DEM]

28. Prayers are with you, but it's 3:30 am and I have to work tomorrow.

Hope all goes well. Mayhaps 2006 will see you like Job (in the Bible) getting it all back and then some. You surely have the righteous cause and the deeds of a saint to mark you as someone God owes a bit of assistance to in my estimation.

[Tigress DEM]

29. Prayers are with you, but it's 3:30 am and I have to work tomorrow.

Hope all goes well. Mayhaps 2006 will see you like Job (in the Bible) getting it all back and then some. You surely have the righteous cause and the deeds of a saint to mark you as someone God owes a bit of assistance to in my estimation.

[NJCher]

30. hey readmore

I've been following your story. I already did 1 and 2 and will do 5 and 7 when I've accumulated the addresses. Good luck with your rally--I'll be watching for any news.




Cher

[Bhaisahab]

31. K&R

The world desperately needs people of your calibre, sensitivity, and character. Some day man... some day...

[Disturbed]

32. Damn the Neo Fascist Bush Regime!

Please keep us informed about your situation and the struggle.

Damnit, this really sucks!!!

[aikoaiko]

33. Out of curiosity, do you get tuition wavers with those TA slots? nt

[Bill McBlueState]

50. I can't speak for readmoreoften,

But at most institutions, TA positions come with tuition waivers. However, if you're suggesting that a tuition waiver should be considered adequate compensation, I'll remind you that grocery stores and landlords don't take tuition waivers as payment.

[aikoaiko]

55. I know, I lived on a 10K TA for 7 years, albiet not in NYC.

I was just curious because readmore didn't list it as a part of the package deal. While tuition wavers don't pay the rent, it can be considered some very valuable compensation. At my school, the waived grad school tuition was 18k per year and that was a state university. I can't imagine the cost at a private top tier school like NYU.

I support worker organization -- I was just looking to understand the whole picture.

[readmoreoften]

70. All full time employees get full tuition, too.

But we don't say that the janitors make $70K a year. All workers at NYU that commit to a certain # of hours get tuition remission.

Before our union contract there was not a guarantee of tuition remission.

I have no "package". I applied to school and received $0 in aid from my department (none of us do in my program). Even as a TA, I was only taking 1 course a semester (worth $5K). Ph.D.s only take courses for 3 of the 5-10 years they are there. I was talking to a TA in chemistry and they only have 1 year of course work.

Considering that last year I was teaching 2 courses a semester for $19K (assistant/associate/full professors only teach that or less per semester), I would expect remission if I was taking a course. And let me repeat, there was no general tuition waver given before the union contract.

[femmedem]

34. Thank you to you and all of the strikers for standing up for labor rights

at such a high personal cost.

I was an adjunct faculty member of a small college in CT. Although I enjoyed teaching, I quit after two semesters for two reasons: first, I couldn't make ends meet. Second, I realized that my anger over low wages was tempting me to compromise the quality of my teaching. Wouldn't it be great, I found myself thinking, if I didn't have to read, grade and comment on 600 papers per class per semester, plus exams? Hey, maybe I could bring my salary up to minimum wage if I only assigned two short papers instead of five?

I couldn't be alone in this thinking. I'm sure that the low wages you're battling do a disservice not only to you, but also to students. Many good teachers leave. Many other good teachers stay, but change the way they teach in order to financially survive.

Before I taught, I was an exotic dancer. If asked which profession was more exploitive, I'd say teaching as adjunct faculty, hands down.

[lonestarnot]

35. Here's to wishing you luck.

:toast:

[Ganja Ninja]

36. Good luck to NYU trying to replace you for that chump change!

I'm surprised that your fighting so hard for such a low paying job. You could make more money sweeping floors almost anywhere. I support your cause but if it were me I would tell them to kiss my ass.

[alcibiades_mystery]

37. We tried to start a union when I was in graduate school

The admin shut us down, period. Best of luck to you.

in solidarity,
a_m

[sendero]

38. Congratulations..

... to you for standing up for yourself and others.

[Pacifist Patriot]

39. Every tiny part of the picture adds up!

You and your co-strikers are not forgotten.

[myrna minx]

40. I stand with you my friend.

Take care.

[AndyA]

41. I'll be sending good thoughts your way.

I hope this is resolved very soon, and that things work out well for you. Please keep in touch when you can, and let us know how things are going.

Kicked and recommended.

[file83]

42. Do Not Pass 'Go'? Do Not Collect $200? You've got my support!

:kick:

[Barking Spider]

43. A friendly kick from another non-unionized RA/TA

Good luck brother!

[juajen]

44. :kick:

N/T

[BrklynLiberal]

45. KICK KICK KICK!!!!

[Cha]

46. I'll do all I can, readmoreoften..

Thank you for standing up for what you believe in and I hope you're able to get some justice in all of this!

[ismnotwasm]

47. BIG kick

I'm with you all the way. An email is on the way.
I'm a proud member of the Washington State Nurses Association and I'm with you in solidarity as well.
And I know it matters...
And by the way, thank you for all the students you've helped on the path to learning over the years.

[Reverend_Smitty]

48. As someone who hopes to get a graduate assistantship sometime soon...

I wish you the best of luck and hope you guys prevail!

[ismnotwasm]

51. another kick

Because I work nights and I just woke up. And it's a subject dear to my heart.:kick:

[Bill McBlueState]

52. We support you at UMass

From one UAW grad employee union to another, we support you. Good luck today.

Just made a donation to your strike fund.

[robinlynne]

53. Good for you!

And yes it is as important as the other issues. They are all one.
as are we.

[Lisa]

56. good luck, from a fellow TA/sessional

We've got the same situation at our school, re: teaching duties. I'm a "long-service sessional" (don't even get to call myself an adjunct prof -- that's for "real" faculty).

[SmokingJacket]

57. HIgher education is a mess in this country

As is education in general.

[LincolnMcGrath]

58. SOLIDARITY!

:yourock:

[roguevalley]

59. God bless you all. You are my heroes. I want you to know and

understand that. It takes GUTS to do something about shit rather than sit and crab. I appreciate you SO MUCH.

RV

[mdmc]

60. don't drop the soap

and best of luck in your efforts. I'll send an email on your behalf.

[ananda]

61. sheesh

A first year public school teacher makes twice as much as you do.

I think ya'll are being exploited big time, even at 19k.

Sue

[mdmc]

62. it made me so mad that i wrote an email

basically stating that I went to a crappy wallmart / outsourced college, and that I always thought more of NYU.

[pitohui]

63. omg my heart goes out to you

i have heard of your struggle before, and i don't know how to help except to scribble a note of support

it is horrible how grad students are abused, i agree, teaching "assistant" my ass, there is no other teacher "assisting" you, i wonder sometimes why students don't file lawsuits against universities when they pay huge tuition to be taught by prestigious professors -- and then find themselves in a huge classroom being taught by someone who is only a student herself

it's bait and switch all the way around

if you do all the work of teaching, seems you should be getting some damn pay and benefits

my friend was just awarded a teaching assistanceship in another state university, they are indeed offering $3,000 a semester, jesus wept, how is a grown woman to live on $6,000 a year?

[Toucano]

64. I have one thing to say:

:applause:
:yourock:
:headbang:

Make that three things.

[readmoreoften]

65. I AM OUT OF JAIL!!!!

Thank you all! It was so amazing to come out and see all your wonderful messages of support and 80 recommendations. I am going to write a new post detailing the experience.

Thank you for all your support. For those of you who want to help, I am going to set up a very detailed campaign soon. It won't be difficult to participate.

DU gives me strength and hope. Thanks folks.

[OzarkDem]

68. Glad to hear you're out!

Here's hoping you and your fellow teachers win your negotiations! Good luck!

[Blue_Tires]

69. glad to see you're ok

how was the food? lol

[Cos]

66. NYU people

Hmm, I know a couple of former NYU students, I'll send this along...