Talking to your Students, Colleagues and Faculty about the strike

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Some tips for the conversation:

1. Ask your students what they have heard already about the strike and the union. This will help you to focus your own remarks.

2. Explain to them why TAs need a union, and how undergrads benefit:

a. Without a contract, grad assistants have no security. When we had a contract, we didn't have to worry as much about making ends meet because we had guaranteed raises, so we could devote more time to our students.
b. We want to protect the health benefits we won in our first contract, which the university has already cut.
c. Grad students do a huge amount of teaching and research at NYU, and we should have a say in our working conditions.
d. We won paid training for TAs in our contract, something we never had before, and we want a new contract to ensure that we can keep that.

3. Explain why a strike is necessary to win a union.

a. We have exhausted all other options:
NYU refuses to negotiate a new contract with us. Instead, the administration is hiding behind a regressive Bush administration decision, which in fact does NOT prevent the administration from bargaining with us.
b. We have proven again and again that a majority of grad students support the union. We have had rallies, signed an open letter to President Sexton, spoken out at town hall meetings and even done peaceful civil disobedience, and have used media and political pressure. Our next step is to escalate to a strike action.

4. Explain the strike plan and the ways in which the strike will impact them.

You will not be teaching classes, holding office hours or discussion/review sessions, or reviewing and grading students' work. In protest, graduate students will be participating in the picket line instead.

Can another TA review and grade my work? /Can I join another section or attend another office hour? I would hope that the other TAs are striking, and if one of them is not, then they shouldn't be making up my work. That would be strikebreaking, and it's really harmful to our efforts. It would be great if instead they joined us on strike.

Can I email you? I would prefer not to answer class-related emails, but if you have questions about the strike or the union, I'd be happy to answer them.

Can't we just meet off-campus? That would defeat the purpose. Our strike is only effective if we stop teaching altogether and walk the picket line instead.

What can I do to help? First, urge faculty to move their classes and events off campus. Second, you should join us on the picket line. The more support we have out there, the more the university will feel the heat. You can also: ask your parents to write or call President Sexton (john.sexton@nyu.edu), 212-998-2345, telling him to recognize our union (write to him yourself as well); wear a GSOC button; tell your friends why you support the strike and encourage them to do so as well; tell your other TAs that you support the strike and engage them on the issue-don't underestimate how helpful it is to show your TAs support. Finally, you can contact GUS and tell them you want to help at arc280@nyu.edu.

We urge you to talk to your students as soon as possible. You're not asking for their permission- you are educating them about your reasons for choosing to participate in the strike.

Everyone is encouraged to talk to his or her professors. Many are very supportive, and most will engage with you on the issues.

1. They should know that doing your work is strike-breaking, and therefore hurtful to the union effort. Encourage them to take their undergraduate classes off-campus.

2. There is no need to justify your actions, if you do not feel comfortable doing so. Tell them to talk to the Department Chair, Dean Stimpson, Jacob Lew, or President Sexton. For example: "Prof_____, I will be on strike with GSOC in the event of a strike. That means I won't be teaching, grading papers, holding office hours, or meeting with students until after the strike."

If they are supportive:

3. Ask them to move classes and events off campus. Tell them to contact the union (212.387.0220; gsoc@2110uaw.org; www.2110uaw.org/gsoc) if they would like assistance in doing so. Encourage them to sign the faculty neutrality statement and join us on the picket line to show their support.

Ask them if they are planning on striking and encourage them to join us. You can tell them that if they come out with you, it will make the strike much more effective.

If questions come up that you can't answer, direct them to our website or contact us at the union office at 212.387.0220 or gsoc@2110uaw.org.

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