The UNF teacher’s union is supporting Professor Tayeb Giuma in light of a termination notice delivered to the professor Feb. 2.
“We are going to defend [Giuma], we are walking with him,” said Henry Thomas, president of the UNF chapter of United Faculty Florida.
Giuma has pleaded not guilty to a battery charge for hitting his contractor with a 2X4 Sept. 25. This event was grounds enough for Giuma’s termination, said UNF Provost Mark Workman in the termination letter to Giuma.
UNF President John Delaney has said it will be very hard for Giuma to provide documentation to defend his case.
Giuma, vice president of UFF, must contact the university by Feb. 10 to request a predetermination conference.
“The UFF is standing with Giuma,” Thomas said. “We will support him in every way that we can.”
Giuma has been an asset to the university and the union, he said.
“We are hoping that the institution is reconsidering this case,” Thomas said. “This
institution has overstepped its grounds.”
Thomas said he plans to meet Giuma this weekend to go over their future.
E-mail Josh Gore at: sports@unfspinnaker.com
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11 Responses
Has UFF EVER agreed with the administration and chosen NOT to defend a faculty grievance no matter how much evidence there is against the faculty member? Is it always the duty of the union to give a vigorous defense of all faculty no matter how egregious the behavior? What a complete waste of time and resources! Do you put any time at all helping the majority of the great faculty with anything they really need like better program funding or merit based pay raises? Or do you just represent faculty who distinguish themselves by their own bad behavior, unproductive or mediocre scholarship, criminal activity, and egomania? I think it is telling that Tayeb Giuma was an officer in UFF and why the majority of faculty on campus will not join your union. As you waste countless hours of many people’s lives and state tax dollars in the coming weeks with this frivolous appeal, I hope you will give what you are doing some deeper thought.
Posted on February 4th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Way to go Faculty Union!!!! Was the union “walking with” Giuma when he tied his daughter up in a chair for over 8 hours? This type of blind support of members is what gives unions everywhere a bad name
Posted on February 5th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Giuma was VP of the Union so I guess they…have to step up! Are you kidding me!! I agree 100% with Eyes Wide Shut.
Posted on February 5th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Seems to be a futile effort by the Union to defend this guy. Yawn…he was deemed a “threat to students” , and had an undisclosed criminal backround. What is there to defend. Perhaps the Union should focus on standards of officers and members, spend your time with the upstanding members of the Union – not this disgrace!!!!!!!!!
Posted on February 5th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Maybe someone is holding a 2×4 over Henry Thomas’ head?
Posted on February 5th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
A corrupt union defending a corrupt faculty member against a corrupt UNF administration. This should be fun to watch.
Posted on February 6th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Hey UFF! Look at the recent faculty shooting at UA Huntsville. I bet you would stand with Amy Bishop too. Defending crazy unacceptable behavior is indefensible. How many unstable faculty members have you helped keep on the UNF campus? There are many reasons why they should not be in academia let alone around students. If you cannot get these unstable faculty the mental health assistance they so desperately need, then you should separate yourself from them. It is not a greater thing you do by blindly supporting any faculty member that will give 10% of their salary to join the union. Those dollars would be better spent in therapy, rehab, on medication or securing legitimate legal assistance.
Posted on February 13th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Hunstville – How scary is that…………
Posted on February 13th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
I was under the impression it was impossible to fire a tenured!
Posted on February 15th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
UNF – after everything I’ve read, can assure you there is no way my highschooler will even look at UNF while this man is allowed to teach – kudos for taking a stand, securing an education should not be a scary event
Posted on February 15th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Is this guy finally gone – where do we stand on this – can’t not believe after all I read the Union would back this guy – what a waste of resources – update please!
Posted on February 22nd, 2010 at 9:42 pm
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