Texas State Employees Union

Dr. Idris Robinson is celebrating a major victory for free speech following today’s federal court ruling in his favor.   Ruling from the bench, U.S. District Court Judge Alan Albright granted a preliminary injunction ordering Texas State University to reinstate Dr. Robinson with pay and university affiliation for one year or until the conclusion of his trial, whichever comes first. A written order will follow today’s hearing. The ruling signals the strength of Dr. Robinson’s case.   Professor Robinson was represented at the hearing by attorney Samantha Harris of Allen Harris PLLC and attorney JT Morris of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).    According to notes taken during the hearing, Judge Albright stated, “Given that the state really hasn’t made an effort to argue that the speech that the plaintiff gave [wasn’t] in some role or another a motivating factor - I don’t know that they could, given the fact that he was suspended immediately after the speech and told that it was because he exercised his right to First Amendment - I’m going to order that the university maintain his employment contract for one year or until the case resolves, whichever is sooner.”   Preliminary injunctions are not granted lightly. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness of the constitutional violations alleged and the weakness of the university’s defense.   The ruling comes amid growing concerns over political retaliation, censorship, and suppression of dissenting voices at Texas State University. The implications of this decision will extend far beyond Dr. Robinson’s case, with implications for Dr. Tom Alter, Dr. Saeed Moshfegh, and others who have been silenced by public universities in Texas. The court’s willingness to intervene at this early stage sends a powerful message to universities across Texas and across the country that violations of First Amendment protections will not stand up in court.   Today’s ruling is a big step in the right direction. But the broader fight for free speech and worker power in higher education continues. Join the union to be a part of it.

Second Texas State University Member Fired for Political Speech Sues University:   For the last nine months, Texas State University has been quietly moving to terminate Dr. Idris Robinson following an online harassment campaign that targeted him for comments made as a private citizen during an off-campus talk he gave without using his institutional affiliation a year prior. Sound familiar?   Dr. Robinson was a tenure-track professor in the Department of Philosophy at Texas State. The university ended his contract after a call-in campaign targeted Dr. Robinson because of his political views in favor of Palestine, which he stated at a talk he gave in June 2024.   Instead of defending academic freedom and the First Amendment rights of its faculty, the university quickly yielded to outside pressure. This is the same pattern seen in the firing of Dr. Tom Alter, the forced withdrawal of Devion Canty Jr, and the firing of Katrina Meadors in the months that followed.   Academic freedom (the ability to investigate and discuss issues in one’s academic field) and the right to speak freely as a private citizen are cornerstones of higher education and democracy. Texas State is gaining a national reputation for disregarding both.   Can Texas State University handle yet another free speech scandal and lawsuit? Consider showing solidarity with Idris as he fights for all of us. Link in bio.

In case you've missed it, here's what's been happening at Texas State University. Sign the petition to reinstate Dr. Alter via the link in our bio now.

This week, Thursday, May 21st, the Board of Regents will have their final meeting before the summer in which a “health benefit adjustment for graduate assistants” has recently been added to the proposed budget. We all know why. We will be watching the livestream of this meeting with great anticipation at Cougar Grounds from noon until the meeting adjourns. We encourage allies, especially faculty and staff, to please join us at any time for however long to refresh yourself, chat, watch, do work, and be in community. We gather collectively and together to hear this potentially very significant news in salutation to the cultures of solidarity from below that we hope to cultivate in every corner of our campus and shared workplace. 📍 Cougar Grounds, University of Houston 📅 Thursday, May 21st 🕰️ 12PM until end

Human Services Summer Sizzle ☀️ Part One: How We Got Here   The programs we work in at HHSC - SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, MEPD, and others - did not magically fall from the sky. They were won through decades of struggle by workers and social movements fighting poverty, hunger, and economic inequality.   Today’s attacks on public services and the workers who provide them are part of this much longer history. Over the next few months, TSEU will share the history behind these programs, the movements that built them, and why organizing matters today.   State workers, and the Texans we serve, deserve better. Join us in continuing the fight.

Howdy, y’all! We’re excited to welcome you this Saturday for our Labor History Exhibit. Before you arrive, please take a moment to look over this short guide so you know what to expect and can make the most of your visit. Hours of Operation: Saturday, May 16th, 2026 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM 1412 El Paso St ¡Hola, y’all! Estamos muy emocionados de recibirlos este sábado para nuestra Exhibición de Historia Laboral. Antes de su visita, tómense un momento para revisar esta breve guía para que sepan qué esperar y puedan aprovechar al máximo su recorrido. Horario de Operación Sábado, 16 de mayo de 202612:00 PM – 8:00 PM 1412 El Paso St 🌅: @fivepalms_photographyandmusic

San Antonio Labor History Exhibit Hours of operation Open 5.16.2026 12-8pm TSEU Union Hall 1412 El Paso St Free admission* Any questions please DM us! Image: @fivepalms_photographyandmusic

Amidst horrendous weather last Friday, May 1st, graduate worker leaders from across departments, disciplines, colleges, and organizations gathered to celebrate our solidarity and commitment to another, the contributions we have made to rebuilding a collective culture in the large workplace we share, and the promise too of a university made by our common action and vision from below. We honored our colleagues who are leaving us as doctors and saluted their efforts for a better university that they will not get to experience but that those who come after them may yet. Graduate alumni will be part of fighting for the kind of university we know is possible, and that everyone deserves. All eyes on the Board of Regents Meeting, Thursday, May 21st, and beyond.

HHSC members from Austin are mobilizing and organizing for stronger, safer, and more equitable working conditions across the agency! On Tuesday, May 5, union activists took their voices directly to the Texas State Capitol, meeting with House and Senate Human Services Committee members to advocate for flexible telework policies and to push back against privatization efforts. The momentum continued Wednesday as members gathered for a lunch meeting to strategize on their telework campaign, strengthen the union, and expand engagement among coworkers. This work is critical to ensuring that employees have a voice in decisions that impact their jobs, their well-being, and the quality of services provided to Texans!

Join labor unions, workers, progressive, immigrant, student, and community organizations to rally against billionaire attacks on immigrants, public education, and workers! Workers, immigrants, and students over billionaires! Sunday, May 3rd 5pm West HTX Alief Community Park 11903 Bellaire Blvd. North HTX Veterans Memorial Park 1896 Tidwell Rd. East HTX Mason Park at Plaza Viva 541 S 75th St. #unions #mayday

VENUE CHANGE: Due to forecasted rain, we are moving to Sean Patrick’s (202 E San Antonio St, San Marcos) on the Square! Tomorrow, Friday May 1st from 5pm-10pm The event will include a panel on free speech, a town hall discussion, live music, and more.   Speakers include: Dr. Tom Alter, Dr. Idris Robinson, Dr. Saeed Moshfegh, House Rep Erin Zwiener, ( @erinforyall ) Councilmember Amanda Rodriguez, ( @rodriguez4smtx ) and others.   And you can connect with your new favorite org! @data.center.action.coalition @txstydsa @movetxtxst @rosa_negra_satx @socialisthorizonsm @bobcatpridetxst and more will be tabling.   You can also join the march from campus to the venue with fellow faculty, staff, and students! The march will leave from the Stallions Statue at 3:30pm.   May Day Event Schedule: 5pm to 6pm - Welcome hour! Meet the organizations tabling. 6pm to 8:15pm - Panel and Discussion on the Suppression of Free Speech 8:15pm to 10pm - Live music from @psuedodesnudo and @bicuriousgeorge_tx - rumor has it that there will be a custom rendition of Solidarity Forever?!   *Portions of this event will be filmed for a documentary project by TSEU member and award-winning filmmaker, Anne Lewis. You may opt out of filming at any time. Or you can be a part of labor history! DM here or email [email protected] with questions. See you Friday! And a special thanks to @triplesixsocial for being our original hosts! Can’t wait to collaborate in the future for an event on a warm, sunny day!

The Chancellor’s university-wide email yesterday morning is highly significant, and potentially much more than that. We are curious to see that the university has included a “health benefit adjustment for graduate assistants” in the proposed budget for the next fiscal year. A new healthcare measure on this budget is a preliminary but no less meaningful victory. We are looking forward to seeing the full details on May 21 at the next board of regents meeting. In the meantime, however, we must be clear and reiterate what has led to this moment: we are fighting for every student, domestic and international, in *every* college, in *every* department, and for *every* graduate employee that comes after us. When we fight for the most vulnerable among us, all of us win. And we will. Please join us tomorrow at 2PM! (in case of likely rain, come to Bates Law in the basement; otherwise, Butler Plaza) 🍞🌹🩺