Tennessee is NOT for Sale! What We’ve Done to Fight Governor Haslam's Outsourcing Plan

Since first learning of the previously secret push by Gov. Bill Haslam's administration to outsource the facilities maintenance, management, and security of every piece of state-owned real estate in Tennessee, United Campus Workers - CWA members, leaders, organizers, volunteers and our numerous allies have tirelessly worked to stop these efforts in their tracks. Below is a partial list of actions UCW-CWA has taken over this semester:

August 17: UCW issues Press Release, "State Workers Scrutinize, Worry About Haslam’s Newest Privatization Scheme"

August 18-20: Every regional paper of record across Tennessee learns of the news from United Campus Workers and begins reporting on it

August 31: 1st State-Wide Membership "Town Hall Call" with many hundreds of higher education employees logging in to learn more

September 3: Public Demonstration at UTK with rallies at Cumberland Ave. Pilot Gas Station & UT Knoxville School of Law Building

September 11: UTK action @ Student Union dedication ceremony

September 15: Press Release, "After Damning Revelations, Haslam Should End Outsourcing Push"

September 18: Memphis sign holding; Sierra Club quoted

September 22: Sign holding at Johnson City, press coverage

September 24: UTK action @ Presidential Court & Haslam Business Building, attracting students and community partners

October 6: UTK hosts Lawmaker Fact-Finding Tour, press coverage

October 9: UTK Sign Holding in Front of Board of Trustees Meeting at UTK, press coverage

October 20: Public Hearing Against Outsourcing in Spencer, TN, press coverage (Van Buren County; County Commission previously passed resolution on September 15)

October 26-31: Statewide Week of Action

Monday, October 26: 2nd Town Hall Call, press coverage

Tuesday, October 27: Phone In – Hosted by Progressive Student Alliance in Knoxville and Memphis

Wednesday, October 28: ETSU, Johnson City: Forum on Privatization, press coverage

Memphis: Employee Appreciation BBQ tabling, press coverage

Thursday, October 28: Prayer Vigil for Working Families, Memphis, TN, press coverage

Thursday, October 28: Press Release, "Outsourcing and the Threat to Tennessee’s Democracy & Economy"

Friday, October 30: Delegation to Governor’s office – delivered 6,368 petition signatures, delivered pamphlet "Outsourcing and the Threat to Tennessee" to legislators, press coverage

Saturday October 31: Jobs with Justice of East TN/JWJET Annual Meeting on privatization

October 30: Meeting with University of Memphis President

November 2: UTK Faculty Senate passes resolution on outsourcing

November 3: Tabling at UTM with Initiative for Civic Engagement

November 3: UTC hosts Lawmaker Fact-Finding Tour, press coverage

November 4: Rally in Memphis, press coverage

November 7: Sierra Club Conference writes 100+ letters against outsourcing

November 11: League of Women Voters of Knoxville/Knox Co hosts first in Privatization series, press coverage

November 16: Dyersburg State Community College Hosts Town Hall

November 17: UTK Student Government Association final approval of resolution opposing privatization

November 18: Rally in Memphis, press coverage

November 19: UTK workers tweet Kenny Chesney video asking for support

November 24: UT Martin Hosts Rally, press coverage

November 18: APSU Staff Senate passes resolution against Outsourcing, press coverage

November 30: League of Women Voters of Knoxville/Knox Co hosts second in Privatization series, on Open Government

December 3: UTK Member watchdogs at Higher Education Budget Hearing, Nashville; Deliver Haslam Scholars letter opposing outsourcing

December 7: Jackson Central Labor Council meets with Sen. Ed Jackson, discusses privatization and letter Sen. Jackson sent on the issue to Gov. Haslam

December 9: UCW Presentation on Outsourcing at APSU Staff Senate

December 10: Open Forum with Sen. Mark Green to discuss outsourcing at APSU