Local 5094 Rutgers Members: Information about the Negotiations Process

NEGOTIATIONS

Contract negotiations started on April 13th! What does that mean? What’s happening?

Our current contract is expiring on June 30th, which means we need to agree with management on a new one and have an opportunity to win a stronger one.

This is how that happens:

Your bargaining team, composed of union representatives and members like you, meets with Rutgers management to debate on the terms of the next contract.

Once these terms are decided, they become a legally binding agreement.

What makes this challenging?

Each party in negotiations has their own interests that conflict with the other party’s interests.

The result is a compromise in which each party yields some of their desires.

Why are negotiations important?

Negotiations are how we make proposals and assert to management that our interests are represented in the contract. Without a bargaining process, there would be no contract to protect our rights and privileges. This would leave management with free reign to implement any rules they see beneficial, and raises being up to the discretion of your boss.

A contract agreement also provides both management and members a clear grievance process to enforce violations of the contract and challenge disciplinary matters.

What happens when terms have not been agreed upon by the expiration of the current contract?

Don’t worry- you won’t be unprotected. The terms of the current contract continue until a new contract is successfully negotiated.

If terms are not agreed upon, members can vote to go on strike.

The right to strike is protected by law. In 1935, Congress passed the National Labor Relations Act to protect union rights, including striking after a contract had expired.

By ceasing to work, we halt the influx of what matters to employers most- the company’s revenue, of which we earn the vast majority. Without us, their programs could not continue; in turn, putting their jobs at jeopardy.

Two important things you can do immediately:

1. Click here to take the bargaining survey if you have not already.
2. Attend weekly membership calls on Fridays at 1 pm to keep informed and get bargaining updates. Click here to sign up and receive the zoom link.

Remember, YOU are the union.