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HPAE 5094 Important Bargaining Update, October 15, 2026

Rutgers has canceled our October 16 bargaining session. Their reason? They have nothing to give us.

Last month, Rutgers told our negotiating team that we should expect responses to our financial proposals by mid-October.

October 16 was their opportunity to deliver on that commitment.

Instead, Rutgers canceled.

More than 150 of our members had already signed up to attend open bargaining on October 16. You were ready to show up, stand alongside your coworkers, and demonstrate that we are united in our fight for a fair contract.

Rutgers knew we were coming. And now, instead of meeting us at the bargaining table, they have canceled the session.

Meanwhile, Rutgers seems to have plenty of money for those at the top.

Across campus, we’ve been posting flyers highlighting the enormous salaries of Rutgers’ highest-paid leaders and asking one simple question:

WHERE ARE OUR RAISES?

Yet these flyers have repeatedly been taken down, almost as quickly as we put them up.

Apparently, asking questions about Rutgers’ spending priorities is getting more attention than answering our financial proposals.

Let’s be clear:

  • Our contract expired June 30, and we are still waiting for responses to our wage proposal, among others.
  • Rutgers committed to providing financial responses by mid-October and has failed to deliver.
  • More than 150 members were ready to participate in open bargaining, only to have Rutgers cancel.
  • Our members continue to show up, speak out, and demand the respect we deserve.

Rutgers can take down our flyers. Rutgers can cancel a bargaining session. But Rutgers cannot silence over 2,000 union members demanding a fair contract.

We have been patient. We have bargained in good faith. We have given Rutgers the opportunity to come to the table with meaningful proposals.

Our patience should not be mistaken for acceptance.

Now is the time to turn our frustration into action.

Instead of bargaining we are going to be holding a virtual town hall at noon, Friday 10/16 to discuss our next steps to mobilize against management. We will be using the same caucus link sent earlier for open bargaining. Didn’t sign up for open bargaining, here is the link: Oct 16th  HPAE TOWN HALL

We need to make our next solidarity walk the largest one yet, to send the message to Rutgers that we are tired of waiting. Lunch will be provided. Bring your co-workers:

  • Tuesday Solidarity Walk at MSB Courtyard in Newark at 12:30 p.m reach out to Saleena Ghanny at [email protected].
  • Stay tuned for New Brunswick and Piscataway
  • Want to host a solidarity walk at your location/a satellite site? Contact Co-Presidents Ryan and Casandra.

Our next bargaining session is Monday, 10/26. We need you there to put pressure on management to bargain in good faith. Register here with this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/z_eAYvJDQZOpWl3z5bfshw

We need every member to understand what is happening and to stand with their coworkers. The strength of our union is not demonstrated at the bargaining table, it is in every department, every building, and every member willing to demand better.

We are ready to bargain. We are ready to show up. The question is: Is Rutgers ready to do its job?

In solidarity,

HPAE Local 5094 Bargaining Team