Lean into 2023: Organize Around Health Costs, Upcoming Meetings & Download Solidarity
Dear {{ FirstName | default: ‘Friend’ }},
We hope that you had a peaceful and festive holiday season and feel ready to face 2023 with dedication and commitment to ourselves and each other as we lean in on the campaign for a strong contract with Rutgers. There is a lot planned already for the coming weeks – and with good reason: there are rising costs to health coverage and a contract to win that addresses financial, health and safety, job security, benefits, and quality of life issues we all deserve. Let us make the most of this year, because we, our families, and the communities we serve are worth fighting for.
Update from the Bargaining Table – We met with management on January 5th and had a productive back and forth exchange about our Union’s stance on the importance of open and transparent bargaining. While the University did not have a response to our most recent counter proposal on the topic, we are cautiously optimistic that the meaningful exchange on the 5th bodes well for the upcoming sessions. We are actively engaged as part of the Coalition of Rutgers Unions in our collective fight for transparent bargaining and member involvement in securing the strong contracts we all deserve.
We look forward to finding our way to an agreement on process and digging in on our core bargaining priorities: wages, cost and quality of benefits, health and safety, job security, parking, remote and telework, tuition remission and continuing education, and so much more. Be part of the process, your participation is power. Join the team in the upcoming Union Caucus on January 19 as we prepare to return to negotiations, proposals in hand.
The Cost of Healthcare – Check your pay stub– as you know, NJ State health care costs are increasing and Rutgers’ delay in getting to the bargaining table is keeping the union from proposing limits to the cost of members’ health insurance. Be sure you see how this is affecting you. Look on your January 6 paystub to see what the increase to health insurance is and note that this reflects half of an average regular pay period (because one week of this pay period reflects the previous level of cost). The fight for a strong contract with fair wages and benefits will not win itself. Don’t let what you see on your pay stub this week be how 2023 heads, join the campaign and be part of creating victories you want to see at work and in your wallet.
Because this contract will not win itself: Stay informed and fight on!
Join an upcoming General Membership Meeting. Bring your paystub to discuss the issue, get the latest update from the bargaining table, hear about upcoming campaign events and actions all to support winning a strong contract that includes the priorities of the membership. Register for either meeting through the links below. Both meetings will have the same agenda.
Thursday, January 12 at 6:30 PM
Tuesday, January 17 at 12:00 PM
Register in advance for these meetings. Please do so at least one hour before the meeting so that we have time to approve your registration and to ensure you will be able to attend.
After registering, you will receive a registration confirmation e-mail. If you do not receive the confirmation email, check your junk mail or that you have not misspelled your e-mail address when you registered. After your membership status has been confirmed, you will receive an email containing sign-in details for joining the meeting.
You must be a member in good standing to attend. If you’re not a member, you can sign up for membership online here.
Solidarity Wins! Show your Union Pride with the Unity Support Zoom Background.
Our unity is clear, download this HPAE Bargaining Petition Zoom Background to show your support for the team at the table and the campaign of coworkers to win all the improvements we earned and deserve. Solidarity Wins!
In solidarity,
Ryan Novosielski & Justin O’Hea
Co-Presidents of HPAE 5094