TAA Events for the Next Two Weeks

As we head into the homestretch of summer break before the academic year begins again, the TAA is ramping up its programming. Over the next two weeks, we have a number of program events and actions, mostly related to our Orientation Organizing Campaign. We hope all rank-and-file members of our union will consider getting involved in the union – and these are great places to start. Here’s what is coming up in the next two weeks (all events at the TAA office, unless noted otherwise):

Tuesday, August 11th – 6 PM
Orientation Organizing Campaign information session
Wednesday, August 12th – 5 PM to 8 PM
Orientation Organizing Campaign activist recruitment
Thursday, August 13th – 5 PM to 8 PM
Orientation Organizing Campaign activist recruitment
Sunday, August 16th – 6 PM
Orientation Organizing Campaign information session
Monday, August 17th – 7 PM (at the Madison Labor Temple)
South Central Federation of Labor delegates meeting
Tuesday, August 18th – 5 PM to 8 PM
Orientation Organizing Campaign activist recruitment
Wednesday, August 19th – 5 PM to 8 PM
Orientation Organizing Campaign activist recruitment
Thursday, August 20th – 6 PM
Orientation Organizing Campaign information session

Here’s a brief description of each of the kinds of events/actions:

Orientation Organizing Campaign information session
These teach-ins will help to build our Orientation Organizing Campaign. Attendees of the information sessions will learn about our campaign and why it’s important, as well as the campaign plan. Folks will get a sense of what the campaign is all about, how it will work, and what rank-and-file members can do to make this campaign a big, union-building success. You’ll get plugged into your union, and get a little free food and beverage on the side. If you’re planning on attending one of these, make sure to RSVP to Orientation Committee co-chair Peter Rickman, so that we can plan on the right number of attendees, for the sake of materials and food/beverage.

Orientation Organizing Campaign activist recruitment
These actions will recruit fellow rank-and-file members of our union to get active on our Orientation Organizing Campaign. Attendees will help recruit fellow grad student workers of our union to be involved with the campaign. Folks will get a quick run-down of the campaign, if they don’t know about it all yet, and then get trained on effective activist recruitment; then, we’ll all make phone calls to fellow TAA members to recruit them to join the campaign. And of course, there will be food and beverage for all. Actions run from 5 PM to 8 PM, but we’re looking for folks to come for about two hours at a time. Make sure to RSVP to Orientation Committee co-chair Peter Rickman so that we can plan for the right number of attendees.

South Central Federation of Labor delegates meeting
Our union is part of a local labor council, made up of dozens and dozens of other unions in our area. The labor council, the South Central Federation of Labor (SCFL, or “scuffle”), holds a monthly meeting of delegates to cover council business, hear from speakers, and strategize on continuing to build a vibrant labor movement in the Madison area. Attendees will get a taste of the grassroots labor activism that makes Madison a Union Town. If you’re planning on attending, let us know – and if you want to carpool, we can make that work too.