After 10 months of working without a contract, members of three unions at Rutgers University went on strike as of yesterday (Monday).
Representing approximately 9,000 workers, the three union locals on strike are: Rutgers AAUP-AFT, which represents full time faculty, post docs, graduate workers, and counselors; Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union-AFT; and Rutgers AAUP-BHSNJ, whose members teach at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences medical, dental, nursing, and public health schools. These combined unions voted overwhelmingly in favor of striking.
The strike--which involves contractual issues impacting everyone in the three units named above--was called principally to demand labor equity (better job security, a living wage, equal pay for equal work, etc.), for the more marginalized members of the Rutgers employee community, including adjuncts, graduate student workers, and others.
Officers and other Members of our AFT Local 1904 attended the picket site in solidarity with the striking Rutgers employees. Photos of the event at the New Brunswick Rutgers campus, below.
Top Left Photo: Rich Wolfson (AFT Local 1904 President), Irene Mulvey (AAUP National President), Tim Haresign (CNJSCL President); Top Right Photo: Alex Sperling (AFT Local 1904 Professional Staff Negotiator), Ali Sperling, Aurora Sperling; Bottom Left Photo: Grover Furr (AFT Local 1904 Member); Bottom Right Photo: Donna M. Chiera (AFT-NJ President), addressing the crowd
