Teaching Assistants Union at Western Michigan University (TAU 1729)

09/22/2024

BREAKING: The resolution is a “dramatic expression of long-term dissatisfaction and concern” from members of the WMU American Association of University Professors (WMU-AAUP), the WMU Teaching Assistants Union (WMU-TAU) and the WMU Professional Instructors Organization (WMU-PIO.) Read more at https://www.westernherald.com/news/article_5c6ff33e-78f2-11ef-9bd5-673e16fed0aa.html.

08/27/2024

Join our colleagues and chat with students today! Also, Bronco Bash is fun to begin with!

With the negotiation deadline on Friday, every hour matters, Western Michigan University folks! If you absolutely cannot make it to Bronco Bash, stop by Montague House and grab some fliers. We’ll give you suggestions about what to do with them. WMU’s president seems determined, not only to force employees into accepting an insulting compensation offer but to BRING A POWERHOUSE WMU UNION TO ITS KNEES. If they succeed, then what do they have planned next?!

08/24/2024

We spent the morning with our WMU AAUP colleagues talking to students and families about administrative bloat and disinvestment in the academic mission happening at Western Michigan University. A collection of our favorite responses from students after learning just how much President Montgomery makes while his team claims poverty at the table:

“Tell that guy to cashapp me some of that so I can afford my bills!”

“I would have guessed he’d make something like 75k, that’s a crazy amount of money”

“I’d like to make that kind of money for what he does”

“Well, we support you guys in fighting for fair pay”

As we kick off the semester, look for more ways to get involved to work as a campus wide community of labor partners to improve working and learning conditions at WMU!

08/13/2024

TAU supports our faculty colleagues in their fight for pay that reflects their crucial role in our university community. After all, their (read: our) working conditions are student learning conditions

A negotiation update from WMU-AAUP president, Dr. Cathryn Bailey Later this morning, the WMU-AAUP negotiation team will present our proposal regarding faculty compensation to the WMU Administr…

06/11/2024

Join us on Thursday to show support for our faculty colleagues!

Calling all Members and Allies, stop by on Thursday to help send the message that Western Michigan University must start investing in its core mission again. Employee working conditions are student learning conditions!

11/14/2023

TAU Members, check your email for an event happening next week! :)

09/29/2023

One of the the most important things we can do as a union is support our fellow union colleagues across campus fighting for better treatment and fair pay (the same fight we are in)!

Here’s an easy, 30 second way you can show solidarity today - sign the Professional Instructors Organization’s petition below to tell admin that our colleagues deserve to be compensated fairly, particularly on the heels of another (unearned) raise given to WMU’s President yesterday. FYI, that raise was more than we make in a whole year of teaching! 💰💰💰

Sign, Sign, Sign✏️:

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-wmu-to-stop-paying-poverty-wages?fbclid=IwAR2wKSIaArOKFGlh7jUTEpeWidypumsmplmbxL2RdkbOxLOKxRJMoudRb1M_aem_AYTxm1np2yJ6X9yE-TddxtBqSo9NdAhfKNGBW86sNBomZAjz_IGep3O7Jw19n5YejUM

09/23/2023

TAU President Thomas and his pro-union sidekick Basil (Member of Dog Local #1728) came across these important signs on campus that reminded them how WMU treats part-time faculty just as poorly as they do TAs!

Join us on Monday at University Roadhouse at 5:30 PM for a member meeting to talk important TAU issues and get an update on contract bargaining for our colleagues in the Professional Instructors Organization. Details in comments!

09/19/2023

Join us next Monday!

09/04/2023

We are incredibly grateful for our strong partnerships with organized labor across campus, today and everyday.

On this Labor Day, we celebrate those that have come before us to pave the way for us to continue the fight for better treatment and working conditions for all.

We’re proud of the work our members do each and every day to carry out the academic mission at WMU. Without them, our students would have far less opportunities both in and out of the classroom.

On this Labor Day weekend, the WMU-AAUP sends a special message of solidarity to colleagues across Western Michigan University: AFSCME, the PIO, TAU, the APA, POA, MSEA, and IATSE. WMU works because we do!

06/23/2023

Over the past week we’ve been introducing our ’23-24 TAU Executive Board

Please welcome back our president Thomas Fisher!

“I am a 4th year doc student in the psychology department and am excited to begin serving my THIRD term as president of TAU. I look forward to continuing to build on the progress our union has made over the past several years. In my free time I like spending my time exploring, adventuring to new breweries and distilleries, and taking good afternoon naps.

I’m excited to get to work with all of our awesome TAs across campus as we continue to build power as a union! Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns over the course of the year!

In Solidarity,
Thomas”

06/22/2023

Over this week we’ve been introducing our ‘23-‘24 executive board!

Please say hello to our new Communications Officer Jamie Bollweg:

“Hi! I'm Jamie. I will be starting my final year in my English MA here at WMU this fall. I am excited to put my passion for teachers' rights into action as Communications Officer for TAU. When I'm not grading papers, reading literary theory, or playing Tears of the Kingdom, I enjoy making ambient music under the name Blank Verse. I'm looking forward to another exciting school year, and can't wait to represent our talented teaching assistants.”