Today I talk with Liam Maher. Liam is an organizer with TUGSA, the Temple University Graduate Student Workers Association. TUGSA recently went on strike for six weeks and won major victories for themselves, including nearly $5000 raises on average, increased dependent healthcare coverage, increased parental leave from five business days to 21 calendar days, and an improved grievance procedure. Their strike also set in motion an ongoing change in leadership process at Temple by providing a crystal clear critique of the administration’s commitment to privatizing Temple. This critique has helped lead to the resignation of privatized higher ed mascot and former university president Jason Wingard, and, on April 24th, a landslide vote of no confidence in the board chair and provost. 

Liam is one of the founders of the so-hot-right-now instagram account TUGSA Strike Crush, dedicated to the idea that the revolution will be memed and full of light hearted romance. What started as a fun strike activity has grown and improved to become a key organizing tool and strategy at Temple. Our conversation hopefully demystifies strikes for folks who haven’t participated or organized one; offers an anti-capitalist and anti-racist critique of higher ed today; and will inspire your own organizing efforts, especially for folks who want to become more involved but don’t quite know where or how to start.