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President’s Letter
by KU-APSCUF
Newsletter March 2021
President’s Message
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“Why do you need a union?” This is a question I’ve been asked more than once by old high school and college friends who don’t work in academia or in fields where unions are common. One Acienit id quatust ibustrum eseresponse that at least seems to get their attention is when I refer to the success of the players’ qui dem velles pro te que nis niunions in professional sports. “Do you really think,” I ask them, “that the team owners would have maxim illaborae in et resectat et allowed the players to share such a percentage of the profits without the unions?” es as endus que esti ut omnien-
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The last public event I attended before everything shut down a year ago was a negotiation session led by the Teamsters in Boston. They were representing service workers at the Encore Casino in Everett, just outside of Boston. Although the full horror of the pandemic was not yet clear, the service workers—in housekeeping and in restaurants at the casino—were clearly terrified. The Teamsters made a compelling case for safety precautions, furlough pay, and job protection.
Marty Walsh, the then-Mayor of Boston, played a key role in those discussions. Before becoming mayor, Walsh was a longtime member of the Laborers’ Union Local 223, serving as the president of the union until he stepped into the mayor’s office. Walsh brings his strong labor background to his new position as Secretary of Labor in the Biden administration, which is shaping up to be one of the most labor-friendly administrations in decades.
One sign of that? In Alabama, a labor battle has been brewing between the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union and Amazon. President Biden has spoken resoundingly in favor of the union. For decades, no president in either party has been as outspoken in support of unions as Biden has been.
Why do the warehouse workers need a union to represent them? Amazon has become a powerhouse in just over two decades and has become ingrained in American life. Part of that massive growth has led to serious problems with working conditions.
Let’s just look in our own backyard for an example. In 2011, the Morning Call reported on Amazon having squads of ambulances ready at their Breinigsville warehouses for workers suffering from the effects of excessive heat. Literally, Amazon had made a calculation that it was cheaper to hire ambulance services to be on call to take away workers sickened by the heat than to invest in a proper cooling system. The pressure that the publicity from the Morning Call article ultimately led to changes. In the future, a union would play a role to ensure that the situation never gets to such a point--because workers matter.
President, APSCUF-KU
TABLE OF CONTENTS
APSCUF-KU Leadership APSCUF-KU Leadership
Table of Contents
Page 5 …………………………….…………… April Calendar
Page 8 …………………. 2020 APSCUF Dues Tax Letter Page 9 ……………………………….……. APSCUF Rewards
Faculty
President: Thomas Stewart Vice President: Jason Lanter Secretary: Emily Cripe Treasurer: Anke Walz Delegate: Darren Achey, Physical Sciences Delegate: Tabetha Berstein-Danis, Special Education Delegate: Lisa Frye, Computer Science Delegate: Bob Kilker, English Delegate: Mahfuzul Khondaker, Criminal Justice Delegate: George Sirrakos, Secondary Education Alternate: Philip Bolger, Criminal Justice Alternate: Kaoutar El Mounadi, Biology Alternate: Tauqeer Hussain, Computer Science Alternate: Robert L Smith, Communication Studies Alternate: Carol Watson, Elementary Education
Coaches
President: John Gump Vice President: Judith Lawes
APSCUF State Leadership
Address: 319 North Front Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 Phone Numbers: (717) 236 – 7487 or (800) 932 – 0587
President: Jamie Martin, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Vice President: Chris Hallen, Bloomsburg Treasurer: Cliff Johnston, West Chester Secretary: Michele Papakie, Indiana Coach Executive Leader: John Gump, Kutztown Faculty Officer-At-Large: Joyce Overly, Clarion Faculty Officer-At-Large: Matthew Girton, Lock Haven Faculty Officer-At-Large: Ben A. Shaevitz, Slippery Rock
Labor Relations, (Grievance-Faculty and Coaches):
Mary Rita DuVall, head of labor relations: (800) 932-0587, ext. 2 Julie A. Reese, director: (800) 932-0587, ext. 2 Joshua J. Grubbs, director: (800) 932-0587, ext. 2 Sara E. Miller, director: (800) 932-0587, ext. 2 Jewel Tunstall, administrative assistant: (800) 932-0587, ext. 3018 Angela Belcher, administrative assistant: (800) 932-0587, ext. 3015
Government and Public Relations:
Sean Crampsie, director of government relations: (800) 932-0587, ext. 3014 Kathryn Morton, communications director: (800) 932-0587, ext. 3007 Ty Marks, administrative assistant: (800) 932-0587, ext. 3024
Membership Services:
Bim Arthun, director: (800) 932-0587, ext. 3021 Monica Troutman, secretary/receptionist: (800) 932-0587, ext. 3001 Organizing: Chabria Thomas, director of organizing: (800) 932-0587, ext. 3022 Researcher: Chris Dunne, researcher: (800) 932-0587, ext. 3026
Support Staff:
Katie Jeffries, executive assistant to the president: (800) 932-0587, ext. 3005 Beth Connelly, director of finance and facilities: (800) 932-0587, ext. 3004
APSCUF is Requesting Your Publications!
State APSCUF wishes to receive complimentary copies of published works from members. This includes books, articles, and/or recordings. Your work will be added to the APSCUF member library at the state office. Letters of appreciation will acknowledge each donation.
Please submit your contributions to the APSCUF-KU office at Old Main 203-A, and it will be sent to Harrisburg.
