Dear Local 1723 Member,

Since my last written “Contract Update,” your Local 1723 Executive Board, Officers, Negotiating Committee, activists and supporters have been busy and active in our attempt to secure a successor contract to the one that expired seven months ago. Our actions and activities led to the mail response you received from Temple Human Resources Vice President Deborah Hartnett dated May 22, 2008.

Before I address the Temple “final proposal” letter, and without alerting the other side to our overall plans, let me explain some of our recent actions and strategies.

Between January 23, 2008 and this week, Temple has denied or thwarted our every attempt to sit down and discuss contract proposals. They denied or ignored e-mail and written requests to schedule negotiating sessions. Even our requests through the State Mediator to schedule sessions were unsuccessful. Temple sought to ignore us unless we pre-agreed to cave into their demands.

Left with no recourse, we resolved to undertake actions to bring Temple back to the negotiating table. Our tactics and activities were chosen to help Temple see the wrong they were doing to those who work hard to ensure that Temple and its students succeed. Our actions were not harsh, were non-threatening and were perfectly legal. In fact, our first action in April was a “Rally for Fairness.” (The Rally drew hundreds in support of our request for fair negotiations and a fair contract. At the Rally, speakers included leaders from other Temple unions, student leaders and supportive words from AFSCME District Council 47 President Cathy Scott and AFSCME International President Gerald McEntee.)

The Rally provoked supportive news coverage but no response from Temple. So, we planned additional activities to draw Temple back to the table.

We sought and had passed a Resolution of Support from the Pennsylvania State AFL-CIO. We sought and had passed a Motion and Letter of Support from the Philadelphia AFL-CIO, which we had mailed to President Hart and the Temple Trustees. (See enclosure) We started a petition drive seeking a fair contract from the University. Temple’s only response was silence.

In May, we increased the level of our advocacy as befitted the situation. With the help of students, organizations and individuals, we prepared and distributed a leaflet at the May Temple Trustee meeting – using words from Temple’s mission statement to prod Temple back to the table. (See enclosure.) At the meeting a student was denied the opportunity to address the Trustees concerning the lack of a contract. Local 1723 President Dannenfelser was physically barred from entering the public, open meeting by Temple security. Result: More silence from the “thriving” University. (over)

Not until Temple got word that we were planning an action for graduation (and hoped to spare itself public embarrassment) did Temple deem it necessary to meet with your Committee. But, even this action by Temple didn’t amount to negotiations. It was more a “My way or the highway” meeting in which Temple held firm to its position on virtually every single important proposal. With no change in Temple’s position, Local 1723 went forwarded with the planned Graduation protest in which we distributed more than 2,000 flyers (see enclosure) and received student support through their hoisting a pro-union banner during the ceremonies. Result: The threatening, bullying, illegal and insulting letter of May 22, 2008 to Bargaining Unit Employees from the Human Resources Vice-President.

While plenty of time remains before Temple’s June 18, 2008 artificial and foot-stomping deadline, the Union informed Temple that their “final offer” wasn’t sufficient and would not be put before the membership for a vote.

Temple’s direct contact with bargaining unit members (the May 22 letter) is an illegal contact, an attempt to divide the union and an action to pit one member against their Sister or Brother. Local 1723 will file an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge with the Labor Relations Board to end Temple’s divisive and dismissive tactics.

The Union has made it clear that we are not interested in the Universities’ “beliefs” that they know best how to treat, discipline and reward their employees. We are interested in negotiating a contract.

Until such time as Temple re-enters meaningful contract negotiations, we will remain stalwart and true to our belief that every Local 1723 member/employee is valuable and the product of their work ought to be valued fairly and without threat by the University.

In the interim, all the terms of the previous contract remain in effect.

Over the next few days, we will prepare and communicate a schedule of informational meetings to discuss these matters with the membership. We are making progress in resolving this fight. While it provides little solace today, we have forced Temple to meet. No matter how insulting their response, we have forced Temple to act.

We are not powerless. We have resources, energy, ideas and friends. Most of all, we have the will to succeed for what is right and fair.

So, please continue to support one another. Remain positive and professional.

If our foes are successful in dividing us from one another, they will win. But if our message of solidarity rings true, we will all be the winners.

In Solidarity,

Paul L. Dannenfelser