United Campus Workers unites Tennessee's higher education staff and faculty into a strong voice to address critical issues we face. Our mission is to advance and defend the interests of all Tennessee higher education staff and faculty, as well as promoting solidarity, democracy, and advancing social and economic justice in our workplaces and in our communities.

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Tennessee Tech Moves to Outsource Custodial Services, Balancing Budget with 80 Workers’ Lives

Fri, 01/20/2012 - 5:12pm

January 20, 2012

On Wednesday, January 18, Tennessee Tech custodians were called to a meeting and told to bring their keys. Jack Butler, Associate VP for Facilities and Business Services, told custodians that Tech has moved to outsource their jobs to contractor SSC Service Solutions, a company of the $9.9 billion food and support services multinational corporation Compass Group North America, based in the United Kingdom despite its name. Many custodians face choosing a severance package of which they don’t know the details or to work for Service Solutions, who will in all likelihood offer slashed wages and little to no benefits. “We’re being kicked to the curb, and I won’t work on a chain gang,” said one custodian about Butler and Service Solutions’ plan to have roving teams of custodians who never get settled in one building. However, the outsourcing is not yet finalized. The decision must still pass through President Bob Bell and the Tennessee Board of Regents/TBR and the Chancellor, and supposedly may take until May to be finalized, according to Butler. Conveniently, President Bell is currently reported to be vacationing in Hawaii.

January 16, 2012, 6pm: UCW MLK Day Banquet, Knoxville, TN

Wed, 12/21/2011 - 2:05pm

Join the UT-Knoxville Chapter of United Campus Workers/UCW and Jobs with Justice of East Tennessee/JwJET for a Banquet to celebrate and remember the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., featuring Dr. George White.

President Bell Don't Outsource "Awesome!" - the fight to save custodian jobs continues at TTU

Tue, 11/08/2011 - 2:24pm

IB ImageMost of the Tennessee Tech faculty, staff, and student body—with solidarity and support from across the region and many in the Cookeville community—remain united against the idea that outsourcing or privatization of our custodial services will improve our campus or enhance the common good. On October 21, the United Campus Workers organized a rally and march to send a clear message to the Tech administration that our custodians are awesome and the idea of outsourcing is awful.

Our spirited rally invoked a Halloween theme, complete with zombies and grim reapers representing the dark threat of losing one’s job or benefits in this bumpy economy. Following spirited songs, chants, and speeches along Dixie, we marched with a coffin across campus and down Seventh Street towards the hospital, where we gathered for more speeches, finally concluding with a candlelight vigil and closing remarks from the Rev. Pat Handlson.

Brother Ed, Greatly Missed

Thu, 11/03/2011 - 10:30am

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the tragic loss of our brother in struggle, Edward H. Wisdom Jr., a UCW member and retiree from Tennessee State University. Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at Fifteenth Ave. Baptist Church, (9th and Scovel) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Funeral ceremony will be conducted on Friday, November 4, 2011 at Fifteenth Ave. Baptist Church at 12 Noon.IB Image

UCW Endorses Lee Harris for Memphis City Council District 7

Tue, 09/27/2011 - 12:01pm

IB ImageThe United Campus Workers - Communications Workers of America Local 3865 proudly endorses Lee Harris in his campaign to represent District 7 on the Memphis City Council. Lee has demonstrated his commitment to struggles for social and economic justice in numerous ways, but one that we find especially important to mention is his long term membership and active involvement in our local union. Lee understands the issues working and middle class Memphians face in our daily lives, at home, at work and in our communities, and he will be fighting for us on the Memphis City Council!

We encourage our members, other trade unionists, and all others to actively support Lee's campaign. For information about how you can get involved call Lee Harris for City Council campaign headquarters at 901-324-8816.

Let's get our union brother elected to the Memphis City Council!

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