URA at AFT NJ Conference

Gov. Corzine and URA-AFT Members


See pics at http://www.uraaft.org/091109aftnj

URA-AFT president Lucye Millerand gave the AFT NJ federation endorsement of Governor Jon S. Corzine in his reelection bid Friday in East Brunswick. "Yes we can and yes we will," said Millerand as she called on AFT members and leaders representing 40,000 in New Jersey to take an active role in the campaign.

Millerand reflected back to the Governor's appearance at Rutgers to tell Rutgers management to allow URA members make a decision to unionize in 2007 without interference or intimidation. She called this consistent with his continued advocacy for our sister nurse units walking the picket lines and respect for collective bargaining rights.

Governor Corzine expressed his gratitude for the endorsement and told the crowd that he is relying on participation from union members to make the difference in this year's election. He reiterated his view that collective bargaining is the way to resolve workplace differences and asked for support for a continuation of a progressive agenda that included his signing of the paid family leave act and working to maintain education funding.

The AFT NJ conference Sept 11-12 in East Brunswick featured workshops on political organizing, grievance handling, health care reform and even how to combat bullying in the workplace. URA members played key roles in the conference including health and safety chair Joyce Sagi leading the emergency management plenary session Saturday morning.

AFT NJ consists of four groups: AFT Rutgers (URA-AFT and Rutgers AAUP-AFT), the NJ State Federation of Teachers (pre k through 12 and community college adjunct faculty), the Council of New Jersey State College Locals (faculty and staff at the state colleges and universities) and Healthcare Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE). For more information on the affiliates see http://www.uraaft.org/node/51.