Our 2013-14 contract campaign starts now! Thanks to the new “right-to-work” laws in Michigan, a slow economic recovery, a political climate that is increasingly unsupportive of public education, and a legislative agenda dictated by well-financed organizations with corporatization on their minds, WMU faculty are facing new and unique challenges as we approach our 2014 negotiations. That is why the WMU-AAUP is working on a year-long campaign of events and actions to build solidarity on campus and support for 2014 negotiations. Check out the calendar on the back to see some of what’s in store this fall.

What is a contract campaign? A contract campaign engages the faculty to build strength and solidarity in advance of and during negotiations and to support the negotiation team. An effective campaign is one in which the faculty is visible, vocal, and united. It sends a powerful message that we have no intention of assuming a submissive posture in our negotiations and makes clear that we are determined to stand up for the values of academic excellence over political expediency.

Why this matters It would be great if once the faculty has won a benefit, we could consider it permanent from that point forward. Unfortunately, that is rarely the case. A benefit won by the faculty one year is often in the administration’s crosshairs the next time we’re at the table. The administration comes into every negotiation demanding concessions, and our considerable success over the years in holding them off is a direct result of the collective action of the faculty. In other words, our ability to win at the table depends on the visible and vocal support of the faculty. We owe it to the colleagues who founded our union, who have led the Chapter in the years since, and who have negotiated our contracts. They fought for good salaries and healthcare, defended academic freedom, insisted on shared governance and due process, and refused to allow administrative fiat to be “the Western way.” We owe it to them – and to ourselves – not to allow their work to be undone.

What you can do Join us at campaign events and encourage your colleagues to do the same. Watch for emails from the WMU-AAUP, subscribe to our blog (wmu-aaup.com), join us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter for more information about upcoming events and to make sure you never miss a call to action. Want to do more? Call us (345-0151) or email us (staff@wmuaaup.net) to join the campaign team,

and look for the call for nominations for the 2014 negotiation team, coming this fall.

Get ready to get active! Our strength is in our numbers.

Fall 2013 WMU-AAUP Contract Campaign Calendar

September

03 WMU-AAUP Fall BBQ and Contract Campaign Kick-off Tuesday, September 03, 5-7 p.m. Montague House, 814 Oakland Drive

20 WMU-AAUP Association Council Meeting Friday, September 20, 1:30 p.m. 105-107 Bernhard Center

20 “Building Faculty Involvement for a Successful Contract Campaign” Angela Hewitt, AAUP National Director of Organizing and Service Friday, September 20, 2:30 p.m. 105-107 Bernhard Center

27 Fourth Friday Happy Hour (Your first drink’s on us.) Friday, September 27, 4-6 p.m. Bell’s Eccentric Café, 335 E. Kalamazoo Ave.

October

16 “Confronting ‘Right-to-Work’ in Michigan: Surviving and Thriving” Dr. John Beck, Michigan State University Wednesday, October 16, 4 p.m. 3025 Brown Hall

18 WMU-AAUP Fall Chapter Meeting Friday, October 18, 1:30 p.m. 157-159 Bernhard Center

25 Fourth Friday Happy Hour (Your first drink’s on us.) Friday, October 25, 4-6 p.m. Bell’s Eccentric Café, 335 E. Kalamazoo Ave.

November

06 “Creating a Union Community: Lessons from the Past” Dr. Bill Warren, Professor of History, Western Michigan University Wednesday, November 06, 4 p.m. Center for the Humanities, 2500 Knauss Hall

22* WMU-AAUP Association Council Meeting Friday, November 22, 1:30 p.m. 157-159 Bernhard Center *Tentative date/time pending results of survey of AC reps for preferred meeting day/time.

YOUR union. YOUR rights.

(269) 345-0151 web: wmuaaup.net

blog: wmu-aaup.com