News

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Knoxville Parade, Banquet

Join us for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events in Knoxville!

MONDAY, JANUARY 21:

FIRST:
United Campus Workers will be marching with our banner in the Knoxville Parade. Line-up at 9:15am and Step-off at 10:00am from the Tabernacle Baptist Church, 2137 Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd. Join us!

LATER:
United Campus Workers Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Banquet
6:00pm, UCW union hall (UNITE HERE), 1124 N. Broadway, Knoxville
Co-sponsored by Jobs with Justice of East Tennessee
FLYER
RSVP here!
 

Dr. King’s powerful message of economic, racial, and social justice is an important inspiration for the work we’re doing in our union everyday—for workers’ rights, for justice on our campuses, and for our many communities. Come celebrate his call for a society for the many instead of the few, and start your year off right!

Keynote speaker:
Brooks Sunkett, Vice President of the Communications Workers of America's Public, Health Care, and Education Workers Sector

Main dish provided
Potluck sides & desserts
Door prizes
Childcare provided
Disability access

The overall theme from the Knoxville MLK Commission this year is "Intelligence Plus Character." See a full schedule of all events beginning 1/16 and other information here.

www.ucw-cwa.org
www.facebook.com/unitedcampusworkers
www.jwjet.org
www.facebook.com/groups/135606270045/?ref=ts&fref=ts

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Knoxville Parade, Banquet

"Fiscal cliff" impacts student access to state higher education

Federal budget matters show up as state budget matters because of the huge amount of “pass-through” dollars from the federal to state level. Some of this funding goes to assist students with their college expenses. As state government support for higher education has steadily declined, tuition has skyrocketed. Since the 1980s, state appropriations in TN went from an estimated 70 percent to just 34 percent. Since 1990, average tuition increases at the state’s two-year colleges have increased 317 percent.

The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) is slated to lose $186 million in funding, which includes the Federal TRIO programs, serving first generation, disabled, and low income students through outreach and student services. While Pell Grant funds are exempted from sequestration for FY2013, the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) is slated to lose $140 million, which includes funding for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG). Pellissippi State would have 8.2% of this funding cut this year, another 8.2% cut in work study funding, and programs funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities would also see cuts.

What does this mean for Pellissippi students?

Delonda Anderson is a “non-traditional” student who enrolled at Pellissippi State at a later age. After a divorce, she had trouble finding work with better hours than those washing dishes in a café. Currently a sophomore, she made the commitment to enroll full-time in order to concentrate only on school. Delonda believes higher education paves the way to better career options, enabling her to be a happier person, wife, and mother. Because she receives various forms of financial aid, if funding were cut, she would not be able to finish her schooling without taking out loans. From a mountain community in East Tennessee, she feels, “people don’t have any opportunity, especially in Appalachia. Congress doesn’t understand that when they cut programs, these are people you are investing in for the future of the country, people who contribute to the community.”

“Education is valuable in that it’s power,” said Mrs. Anderson. “If you take away the options people have to gain power, then it’s not a good society.”

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Sources:

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/12/tennessee-higher-education-now-haslams-focus/?local

http://www.fastweb.com/financial-aid/articles/3665-potential-impact-of-the-fiscal-cliff-on-federal-student-financial-aid

"Fiscal cliff" impacts student access to state higher education

Gale's Testimonial

Gale's Testimonial

Member Testimonial-- Governor Haslam, We Need a Raise!

Member Testimonial-- Governor Haslam, We Need a Raise!

Take Action for Living Wages and Fair Raises!

Members of UCW met with the Governor's staff on Friday, November 30 and emphasized the need for living wages and fair raises for everyone to be included in this upcoming budget.  Click HERE to send a message to the Governor on this important issue!  It only takes a couple of minutes to let your voice be heard!

UCW has also launched a postcard campaign that is being sent to Governor Haslam.  Email [email protected] if you would like some for yourself and your coworkers to send!

Again, please take a minute to send a message to Governor Haslam about the need for living wages and fair raises.  Click HERE to send a message to the Governor!

Take Action for Living Wages and Fair Raises!

Wednesday, Nov. 14: University of Memphis Living Wage!

United Campus Workers, Progressive Student Alliance, and Workers Interfaith Network.

Wednesday, Nov. 14: University of Memphis Living Wage!