Press Releases
Browse through URA-AFT’s recent press releases:
December 2, 2009
Rutgers Staff Union Agrees to Defer Wages for Job Security
Asks for commitment from management to limit executive compensation
NEW BRUNSWICK...The staff union representing 2,000 workers at Rutgers University voted to accept an agreement to delay contracted raises in each of two years in exchange for job
security, according to Union of Rutgers Administrators‐American Federation of Teachers (URA-AFT) executive director Bob Cousins. “Rutgers management asked us to renegotiate the last two years of a four‐year deal citing the poor economic outlook,” said Cousins. “Our members decided that sacrificing money by accepting this deal made sense to save those who might otherwise be laid off.”
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June 25, 2009
Report Finds Flaws in Rutgers Fiscal Management
Staff identifies opportunities for savings instead of excessive salary reduction
NEW BRUNSWICK...Rutgers management has the wrong priorities and misses opportunities to save money, according to study of staff opinions released by the Union of Rutgers Administrators‐American Federation of Teachers (URA‐AFT). According to Kathryn Neal, New Brunswick campus vice president for URA‐AFT and author of the report, “Over three‐quarters (77%) of respondents believe there are ways the university could cut costs without resorting to lay‐offs or salary reductions.” She said many people responsible for tracking their departments’budgets identified excessive spending for office decorating, travel, meals, printing and overuse of consultants. “Unfortunately we have seen no university‐wide call to reign in spending in these or other areas,” Neal said.
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April 17, 2009
Rutgers Layoff Plans Contrary to Economic Stimulus Intent
Unions Leaders Continuing to Advocate for Funding While Opposing Layoffs
NEW BRUNSWICK… Rutgers management’s announced plans to lay off workers and raise tuition are
misguided and disregard the intent of federal stimulus dollars allocated for New Jersey higher education, according to American Federation of Teachers (AFT) leaders at Rutgers. Correspondingly, faculty and staff unions representing more than 7,000 workers at the state university are publicly opposing threatened layoffs as bad policy that will hurt the university.
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March 27, 2009
State Issues Rutgers “Serious” Citation for Lack of Emergency Preparedness
Union Health and Safety Experts Hoping for Better Cooperation
NEW BRUNSWICK… When Joyce Sagi and Amy Bahruth collaborated on a grant through the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to cultivate peer‐to‐peer emergency planning at Rutgers,the duo had no idea university management would fiercely resist sharing vital information. Now the state has confirmed that the refusal to cooperate in emergency action planning constitutes a serious risk to student, faculty, staff and community safety. Read full release
Aug. 6, 2008
Rutgers Staff Union Says No to Illegal Layoff
Administrative Assistant Targeted for Union Activity
NEW BRUNSWICK…When administrative assistant Leslye Lowen reported as usual to Rutgers’ Cook Campus on June 19, she received a layoff notification. Such a layoff would have been considered unfair the previous year, but a new contract this year gives Lowen the opportunity to challenge the measure. So instead of going quietly into an uncertain job market, Lowen turned to her contract and is standing with her union members to demand justice. Read full release
June 6, 2007
Rutgers Administrative Staff Union Formation Confirmed
Approximately 2,000 member unit certified by Public Employees Relations Commission
NEW BRUNSWICK…The Union of Rutgers Administrators‐American Federation of Teachers (URA‐AFT) card check election has been officially verified by New Jersey’s Public Employee’s Relations Commission (PERC), confirming the majority decision reached by members of the Rutgers administrative unit. Read full release
April 25, 2007
Rutgers Administrative Staff Unit Elects to Unionize
Largest unit has decided to unionize; Sets stage for Supervisors group
NEW BRUNSWICK… After thousands of individual discussions and hundreds of small group meetings, an overwhelming majority of approximately 2,000 administrative workers at Rutgers University have elected to unionize by officially forming the Union of Rutgers Administrators‐American Federation of Teachers (URA‐AFT). Rutgers administrative staff workers talked about negotiating an equitable system for determining raises and promotions, preserving health and retirement benefits and protecting jobs, showing a consensus by signing authorization cards. Read full release
