Tell RU Management: Close Offices When Classes Are Canceled for Safety
Sign the petition at http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/blizzard.
Rutgers University should close offices when classes are canceled. We feel it is reckless and irresponsible to require non-essential staff to report to work in dangerous conditions.
URA Grieving Feb. 10 Blizzard Work Day
URA-AFT executive director Bob Cousins has informed the university that the union is grieving the decision to keep New Brunswick Campus offices open during the Feb. 10 blizzard with classes canceled and Newark and Camden Campuses closed. "The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the time in question," said Cousins. "In addition, the state closed all of its offices and people were strongly urged to stay off the roads. There is no doubt that this was a period of hazardous weather conditions and it was recognized that travel posed an imminent danger to life and property."
The union is calling for the following remedies:
Member Comments About Offices Opening During Feb. 10 Blizzard
URA-AFT members replied back to the union with the following reports of Feb. 10:
"It makes me feel that my status at the university is not valued. It is not fair to have staff risk their lives when faculty and students are told to stay home and stay safe."
"It seems that Rutgers-NB is more important than the state government."
"This is another example of the games that the University plays."
"To argue that the employees can be protected by their supervisors represents a failure to lead."
"Why are the students and faculty more important than us?"
Are you a Card-Carrying URA-AFT Member?
As of Feb. 26, 2010, URA-AFT members should be on the lookout for a plain white envelope from AFT mailed directly to their homes. This mailing contains your membership card.
Q: My membership card expired in October, 2009. When can I expect my new membership card?
A: The AFT membership card that expired October, 2009 will continue to be valid until your new card arrives. We will begin mailing new cards over a 5-week period beginning January 20, 2010. Cards will be mailed directly to members’ homes. If you have not received your new card by April 30, 2010, you may contact AFT membership at 888/238-5646 for assistance.
Outreach Committee Call for Members
 Sandra Jenkins |
"Your request to URA to create a hardship/compassionate fund for members in crisis and layoff has been heard. We want to provide support for members facing stress related to layoff and other life situations.Will you help? |
New Brunswick breaks snowfall record this month
By The Associated Press
February 26, 2010, 2:47PM
Patti Sapone/The Star Ledger Cars covered with snow on a residential street in New Brunswick.NEW BRUNSWICK — February 2010 marks the most snow ever to fall in New Brunswick in one month.
That's just the latest New Jersey record to be broken in this winter of seemingly endless snow.
AFL-CIO Launches Web Site Focused on Good Jobs Now
Good Jobs Now (http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/DdABxDs1FQS9/), a
new interactive Web site from the AFL-CIO, gives workers, people who have lost their jobs and activists a chance to take action, share their stories, find resources and, most important, be part of a grass-roots movement to help the nation climb out of its 10 million-jobs hole created by the recession. [Read more at http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/J7ABxDs1FQS8/.]
AFT Supports Effort To Organize Transportation Officers
The American Federation of Government Employees has filed a
petition with the Federal Labor Relations Authority to be the
exclusive representative for 40,000-plus transportation security officers. The TSOs are the Transportation Security
Administration employees who work hard to keep safe the more
than 600 million people who fly each year. In 2003, the Bush
administration stripped the workers of collective bargaining
rights, and AFGE has been fighting ever since to regain those
rights.
A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST TODAY.
434 AM EST FRI FEB 26 2010
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST TODAY...
SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY AND WILL BE MODERATE TO HEAVY AT TIMES.. THE SNOW MAY FALL AT A RATE OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR.
TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 12 TO 24 INCHES ARE EXPECTED... WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS OCCURRING ACROSS NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY AND THE POCONOS.
WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS 4O TO 50 MPH WILL OCCUR THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON. THESE STRONG WINDS COUPLED WITH HEAVIER BURSTS OF SNOW WILL PRODUCE VERY LOW VISIBILITIES IN AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. THE COMBINATION OF THE GUSTY WINDS AND ACCUMULATING SNOW MAY BRING DOWN SOME TREES AND POWER LINES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE
EXPECTED. HEAVY SNOW AND WIND WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE AT TIMES.
-National Weather Services at
http://www.weather.gov/view/prodsByState.php?state=NJ&prodtype=warnings
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
434 AM EST FRI FEB 26 2010
A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON.
A VERY STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE REGION KEEP SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. AREAS MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL COUPLED WITH THESE STRONG GUSTY WINDS POTENTIALLY BRING DOWN TREE LIMBS AND POWER LINES AND COULD REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO NEAR ZERO IN SOME LOCATIONS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH
GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING
DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA
CAUTION.
-National Weather Service at
http://www.weather.gov/view/prodsByState.php?state=NJ&prodtype=warnings
NJ AFL-CIO Opposes Plan to Lower Unemployment Benefits
According to Charlie Wowkanech, President, NJ AFL-CIO, "[C]orporations have received four unemployment tax cuts since 1998, with savings to corporations ranging from $250 million to $450 million per year. Additional steps have been taken recently on behalf of employers, including diverting $300 million from the general fund to the unemployment insurance fund to delay an employer tax increase.
AFT Joins With Unions to Oppose Christie Order
N.J. labor unions lawsuit claims Gov. Chris Christie's 'pay to play' restrictions violates First Amendment
By Peggy Ackermann/Statehouse Bureau
February 24, 2010, 7:47PM
TRENTON — Four labor unions sued Gov. Chris Christie today, saying he illegally extended state "pay to play" restrictions to them in an executive order he signed last month.
Calling the governor’s order "completely illegal," Hetty Rosenstein, state director for the Communications Workers of America, said it violates the state constitution’s separation of powers provision, the federal constitution’s equal protection guarantees and union members’ First Amendment rights.
"The governor cannot just issue a piece of paper and have it change the law," Rosenstein said. "The Legislature gets to legislate, not the governor."
In addition to the CWA, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Employees-Local 195 and the American Federation of Teachers are asking the state Appellate Division to stay the order.
What's being privatized on your campus?
We want to hear from you! Visit the new AFT Voices at http://www.aft.org/voices/submitcomment.cfm?qid=22 to share your opinion by answering our the following survey question:
What's being privatized on your campus? Bookstore? Cafeteria? Instruction? Tell us your concerns.
A Call To Protect Rutgers Staff Against Adverse Weather
In the event of a severe winter storm, the university routinely cancels classes and yet keeps offices open, requiring staff to report to work. Canceling classes is the right decision because it keeps faculty and students safe and off the roads. Why is this same protection not extended to staff? Why are our lives and personal safety put at risk when other groups are protected?
College Ave Campus Meeting
88 College Ave. Center for Historical Analysis. Basement classroom.
Health and safety committee meeting
College Avenue Campus Center food court
Targum Quotes Bender on University Funding
Christie slashes $18.5M from University funding
Greg Flynn, Wednesday, February 17, 2010
[...]
URA-AFT members support the programs that deliver hundreds of millions of dollars to the University from external grants to conduct research, Bender said.
“Please keep in mind, when we are talking about unionized staff and faculty, these are the people who make the University work — from the faculty delivering quality education to staff providing comprehensive services necessary to support the University’s mission,” he said.
Bender said the University community should make the case for quality public education in New Jersey and at the University.
“Students, faculty and staff at the University need to let the governor and Trenton know that we want to see increased support for higher education,” he said.
Are You Ready to Fight the Attack on Public Workers?
With a fiscal state of emergency declaration from a hostile Governor and a series of so-called pension “reform” bills rapidly moving through the Democratically-controlled NJ Senate, public workers are facing a tough time in Trenton. This could mean increased health insurance contributions and diminished pension benefits for URA-AFT members.
Wednesday Whiteout Brings Double Standard for Staff
URA-AFT New Brunswick Campus vice president Kathryn Neal has asked University Human Resources (UHR) for an explanation of why offices on the New Brunswick campus remained open Wednesday while Newark and Camden campuses were completed closed. “The National Weather Service issued a blizzard condition warning for New Jersey and Governor Christie authorized the closure of all state offices,” Neal noted.
Essex workers file grievance against county for not giving snow day during blizzard conditions
By Sharon Adarlo/The Star-Ledger
February 10, 2010, 7:36PM
ESSEX -- The union representing Essex County workers filed a grievance against county officials because they did not shutdown offices and give employees a day off because of the treacherous snow storm, a union official said.
"The conditions are so bad that both employees and the public can’t get to work," said David Weiner, president of the CWA Local 1081, the union representing county workers. "Why couldn’t the county government be shut down. So little could have been gotten done anyway. It puts our members and pubic at risk."
