Bargaining for the Common Good on Campus

HPAE leaders from Locals 5089, 5094, and 5135 joined hundreds of union, community, and student activists from campuses nationwide on Friday, February 23rd at a “Bargaining for the Common Good” Convening at Rutgers sponsored by the Center for Innovation in Worker Organization.

Over 2,500 health professionals are preparing to negotiate new contracts with Rutgers. We are developing strategies to build broad support for our bargaining demands by engaging our members and community partners on common issues. We joined other Rutgers unions and local community groups like New Labor to discuss the impact of the pending Rutgers partnership with RWJBarnabas Health and how to expand access to healthcare for communities served by Rutgers.

Together 500 activists rallied on College Ave in New Brunswick with United Students Against Sweatshops and AFT – American Federation of Teachers VP, Mary Catherine Ricker, to protest right-wing attacks on unions and to support student demands for a $15 minimum wage for all campus workers.