Local 5094 Bargaining Update, April 25
We continue to make substantial progress towards a settlement. Persistent membership action has made a difference. Several pickets at most worksites on the Newark, New Brunswick, and Piscataway campuses have shown Rutgers our resolve and that our members won’t settle for anything less than fair wage increases, essential job protections, and a contract we can be proud of.
After months of Rutgers pushing for concessions that would only protect seriously ill employees for up to the 12 weeks under FMLA, they proposed a counter that allows unlimited accrued sick leave usage as well as donated time past the 12 weeks.
The bargaining committee presented to management a draft Memorandum of Agreement incorporating all outstanding contract items with the goal of outlining a final contract settlement.
While presenting our wage counter, we projected on a screen the NJ.com article outlining the $5.5 million in incentive bonuses Rutgers handed out to top executives, including President Barchi and Chancellor Strom.
Member action made this happen, but in order to win a good contract, we have to keep up the pressure until we have a signed agreement!
Upcoming Actions:
- Solidarity Rally w/ URA-AFT Wed May 1st 12-2, ASB II, 57 US 1 South, New Brunswick
- Informational Picket Thursday May 2nd, Hoes Lane Circle, Piscataway, 12-1:30
- March for a Fair Contract, Thursday May 9th, 12-1, MSB plaza on 12th Ave, Newark
ALL MEMBERS MUST COMPLETE THE STRIKE SURVEY
Our next sessions are May 3rd and May 14th, 9-5pm (ASB II, 57 US 1 South, New Brunswick). All members are encouraged to stop by. E-mail akulenovic@hpae.org to RSVP.
In Solidarity,
HPAE 5094 Negotiations Committee
Tom Murphy, Mendes Toussaint, Mary Doran, Justin O’Hea, Phil Wilson, Alicia Rivera, Ryan Novosielski, Claude Monken, Antoinette Johnson, Ana Delgado, Lisa Adams, Annette Werts & Beverly Fraietta