Since first learning of the previously secret push by Gov. Bill Haslam's administration to outsource the facilities maintenance, management, and security of every piece of state-owned real estate in Tennessee, United Campus Workers - CWA members, leaders, organizers, volunteers and our numerous allies have tirelessly worked to stop these efforts in their tracks. Below is a partial list of actions UCW-CWA has taken over this semester:
August 17: UCW issues Press Release, "State Workers Scrutinize, Worry About Haslam’s Newest Privatization Scheme"
August 18-20: Every regional paper of record across Tennessee learns of the news from United Campus Workers and begins reporting on it
August 31: 1st State-Wide Membership "Town Hall Call" with many hundreds of higher education employees logging in to learn more
September 3: Public Demonstration at UTK with rallies at Cumberland Ave. Pilot Gas Station & UT Knoxville School of Law Building
September 11: UTK action @ Student Union dedication ceremony
September 15: Press Release, "After Damning Revelations, Haslam Should End Outsourcing Push"
September 18: Memphis sign holding; Sierra Club quoted
September 22: Sign holding at Johnson City, press coverage
September 24: UTK action @ Presidential Court & Haslam Business Building, attracting students and community partners
October 6: UTK hosts Lawmaker Fact-Finding Tour, press coverage
October 9: UTK Sign Holding in Front of Board of Trustees Meeting at UTK, press coverage
October 20: Public Hearing Against Outsourcing in Spencer, TN, press coverage (Van Buren County; County Commission previously passed resolution on September 15)
October 26-31: Statewide Week of Action
Monday, October 26: 2nd Town Hall Call, press coverage
Tuesday, October 27: Phone In – Hosted by Progressive Student Alliance in Knoxville and Memphis
Wednesday, October 28: ETSU, Johnson City: Forum on Privatization, press coverage
Memphis: Employee Appreciation BBQ tabling, press coverage
Thursday, October 28: Prayer Vigil for Working Families, Memphis, TN, press coverage
Thursday, October 28: Press Release, "Outsourcing and the Threat to Tennessee’s Democracy & Economy"
Friday, October 30: Delegation to Governor’s office – delivered 6,368 petition signatures, delivered pamphlet "Outsourcing and the Threat to Tennessee" to legislators, press coverage
Saturday October 31: Jobs with Justice of East TN/JWJET Annual Meeting on privatization
October 30: Meeting with University of Memphis President
November 2: UTK Faculty Senate passes resolution on outsourcing
November 3: Tabling at UTM with Initiative for Civic Engagement
November 3: UTC hosts Lawmaker Fact-Finding Tour, press coverage
November 4: Rally in Memphis, press coverage
November 7: Sierra Club Conference writes 100+ letters against outsourcing
November 11: League of Women Voters of Knoxville/Knox Co hosts first in Privatization series, press coverage
November 16: Dyersburg State Community College Hosts Town Hall
November 17: UTK Student Government Association final approval of resolution opposing privatization
November 18: Rally in Memphis, press coverage
November 19: UTK workers tweet Kenny Chesney video asking for support
November 24: UT Martin Hosts Rally, press coverage
November 18: APSU Staff Senate passes resolution against Outsourcing, press coverage
November 30: League of Women Voters of Knoxville/Knox Co hosts second in Privatization series, on Open Government
December 3: UTK Member watchdogs at Higher Education Budget Hearing, Nashville; Deliver Haslam Scholars letter opposing outsourcing
December 7: Jackson Central Labor Council meets with Sen. Ed Jackson, discusses privatization and letter Sen. Jackson sent on the issue to Gov. Haslam
December 9: UCW Presentation on Outsourcing at APSU Staff Senate
December 10: Open Forum with Sen. Mark Green to discuss outsourcing at APSU