PSUFA Joins AAUP In Solidarity Against Mass Layoffs!
PSUFA joined our full-time colleagues in PSU-AAUP for a rally on Thursday to demonstrate cross-union solidarity against the wave of mass layoffs and program cuts recently imposed by the administration and board of trustees. Nearly 100 non-tenure track full-time faculty received notice of their impending layoff earlier this week, an administrative action that echos the wave of non-renewal notices many adjuncts received over the summer. Participants in Thursday's action wore union t-shirts and carried signs printed by PSUFA Chair of Political Action Erica Thomas, and faculty packed the room for AAUP's bargaining session. It was great to see such a strong show of solidarity in the face of admin's extreme actions!
Student journalists at the PSU Vanguard covered the day's events, including a moment of confrontation between PSU-AAUP President Emily Ford and PSU President Ann Cudd, as part of their excellent coverage of the budget cuts and campus reactions.
In addition, OPB's Tiffany Camhi published an article detailing the proposed cuts and union response, including comments from President Ford and a statement from PSUFA, quoted below:
The Portland State University Faculty Association, which represents adjunct faculty, said mass layoffs would translate to an increased workload for remaining staff and larger class sizes for students. “PSUFA stands in solidarity with AAUP against the PSU board and administration’s shortsighted plans to slash programs and terminate longtime faculty,” said a PSUFA spokesperson in an emailed statement. “We wholeheartedly agree with our full-time colleagues in their observations that such actions will have negative impacts on our entire educational community.”
Missed the Rally? You Can Still Support Faculty Facing Layoffs!
If you couldn't make it to Thursday's rally, you can still stand up for faculty by signing the petition telling President Cudd to stop the cuts, and by RSVPing to observe PSU-AAUP's upcoming bargaining sessions (online viewing option available).