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	Member Profile
	Name:	Nadia Salzer
	Title:	Community Assistant
	Department:	Nutritional Science, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County
	Years at Rutgers:	1

"Any time there is an understanding of mutual respect and collaboration between an employer and its employees, it is a great thing for both parties."

More from Nadia

	Member Profile
	Name:	Mike Ballard
	Title:	Sports Information Director
	Department:	Athletic Department (Camden)
	Years at Rutgers:	10

Mike is a steward and served as a member of the URA-AFT contract committee.

"It is my hope this union will foster the understanding that we are all professionals working toward the same goals. Equitable treatment of all employees fosters unity and builds a culture of mutual respect."

More from Mike

	Member Profile
	Name:	Eric Himsel
	Title:	Sr. Administrative Assistant
	Department:	SAS Office of Academic Services
	Years at Rutgers:	2.5

Eric is a steward and member of the URA-AFT communications committee.

"Having satisfied and respected workers ultimately leads to lower turnover, which, in turn, means all of us remain employed and the university retains the asset of our collective knowledge and skills."

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	Member Profile
	Name:	Janice DiLella
	Title:	Program Coordinator
	Department:	Center for Human Resource Strategy
	Years at Rutgers:	13

Janice served on the URA-AFT bargaining team and has been elected to the executive committee.

"As things were, Rutgers could change policies and procedures whenever and however they wanted. Now they have to include us in that process."

More from Janice.

	Member Profile
	Name:	Jim Kirchner
	Title:	Chief Engineer of College Ave. and Cook Douglas Campuses/Supervisor of Utilities Operations
	Department:	Utilities
	Years at Rutgers:	26

"What I value most in my current position is the interaction and rapport that I have with the customers and my coworkers. I also feel confident that management trusts my opinion and backs the decisions that I make."

Jim is a member of the URA-AFT Executive Board, representing New Brunswick.

More from Jim

	Team Profile
	Name:	Bargaining
	Title:	Team
	Department:	Administrative Unit
	Years at Rutgers:	128

Learn more about your URA-AFT bargaining team.

	Member Profile
	Name:	Lynn Shanko
	Title:	Senior Department Administrator
	Department:	Center for Historical Analysis (RCHA)
	Years at Rutgers:	16

"I believe that having a union empowers us as a group and as individuals."

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	Member Profile
	Name:	Tara Kelley
	Title:	Administrative Assistant
	Department:	Center for Management Development
	Years at Rutgers:	3

"I believe it is important for Rutgers employees to have a strong, united voice. Everyone, in every unit, should benefit from their hard work at Rutgers."

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	Member Profile
	Name:	Helen F. Pirrello
	Title:	Administrative Assistant
	Department:	School of Engineering, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering>
	Years at Rutgers:	27

Helen is a member of your URA-AFT Administrative unit bargaining team and an Executive Committee member, representing New Brunswick.

More from Helen

	Member Profile
	Name:	Brandon Chandler
	Title:	Manager of Residence Life
	Department:	Housing and Residence Life- Camden
	Years at Rutgers:	4

Brandon is a member of your URA-AFT Administrative unit bargaining team and the Camden Vice President.

More from Brandon

	Member Profile
	Name:	Joyce Sagi
	Title:	Safety/Security Compliance Specialist
	Department:	Housing, New Brunswick
	Years at Rutgers:	20

Joyce is a member of your URA-AFT Administrative unit bargaining team and an Executive Committee member, representing New Brunswick.

"We needed to organize so that we could have a voice and an opportunity to be heard in order to improve our working conditions."

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	Member Profile
	Name:	Kathryn Neal
	Title:	Administrative Assistant
	Department:	Classics
	Years at Rutgers:	11

"The union has introduced a new dynamic at this university. For once the administrative staff are talking to each other and working together to consider what is in our best interests. "

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	Member Profile
	Name:	Mary Beth Hager
	Title:	Administrative Assistant (Student Services Coordinator)
	Department:	School of Communication Information and Library Studies
	Years at Rutgers:	23

Mary Beth is a steward and member of your URA-AFT Administrative unit contract committee.

"To have input over the decisions that are made regarding employees’ welfare, both while working at RU and after retiring, is extremely important to me and to those employees who will be working at RU well after I retire"

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	Member Profile
	Name:	Darlene M. Smith
	Title:	Administrative Assistant
	Department:	Program in American Language Studies (PALS)-Newark
	Years at Rutgers:	19

"We can set the bar and be a positive example to others in the higher education field and beyond -- to show that unionization is beneficial to both the employer and the employee."

More from Darlene

	Member Profile
	Name:	Theresa O'Neill
	Title:	Career Management Specialist
	Department:	Career Development and Placement
	Years at Rutgers:	7

This week's contract committee member profile is Theresa O'Neill who is working on the bargaining committee and has focused special attention on exploring health care options and proposals. Theresa is the URA-AFT Recording Secretary.

"Administrative staff workers at other New Jersey colleges and universities are unionized and have been for many years. Finally, we have an opportunity to catch up and enjoy some of the benefits they have."

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	Member Profile
	Name:	Greg Rusciano
	Title:	Program Associate
	Department:	Cook Environmental Science
	Years at Rutgers:	9

"I expect that now or sometime in the near future, you’ll have just as much pride in the URA as you do in the Scarlet Knights. We are volunteering our time on your behalf with this hope. There are many components of Rutgers that we are proud of. This will be one more point of pride."

More from Greg

	Member Profile
	Name:	Kathleen Licinski
	Title:	Administrative Assistant
	Department:	Asian Languages and Cultures
	Years at Rutgers:	14

"It is my hope that the contract will give the hard-working administrative unit the benefits and compensation that we deserve and that the negotiations come to a successful conclusion in a reasonable amount of time."

More from Kathleen

	Member Profile
	Name:	Allison Thomas
	Title:	Editorial Media Specialist
	Department:	University Relations, Creative Services
	Years at Rutgers:	15

"I can't stress enough the power that we have when we speak as a united group. We really have an opportunity here to make a difference for ourselves and those who follow us."

More from Allison