AFT Local 1904 Honors Women in Leadership at the Inaugural #SupportHER Women’s Basketball Game

On Friday, January 24th, at Panzer Athletic Center on the Montclair State University campus, members of the AFT Local 1904 leadership participated in the inaugural #SupportHER Montclair State University Athletics Women’s Basketball Game, to honor women who have achieved various forms of extraordinary leadership, including former Athletic Director Holly Gera, "The Montclair Girl" Jennifer Tripucka, and Vice President of the East Orange Board of Education, Medina Muhammad.

Image Above: #SupportHER event at Panzer Athletic Center Lobby, Members of AFT Local 1904 Leadership standing in front of merchandise booth displaying banner that includes AFT Local 1904 and AFTNJ Logos. People in photo, from left to right: Brian Abrams, Vice President for Internal Affairs; Laura Field, President; Adrian Reagan, Professional Staff Coordinator; Mike Heller, Treasurer; and Rich Wolfson, Immediate Past President

African American Heritage Parade Holiday Harvest Food Giveaway

On Saturday, December 13th, AFT Local 1904 supported the Holiday Harvest Food Giveaway. Bags of food were provided to those in need, including union members.

Image Above: Banner, including the AFT Local 1904 logo

Image Above: Charlie Hall, President, RWDSU Local 108

AFT Local 1904 Shows Up for Trenton Higher Education Hearing to Mobilize in Solidarity with Colleagues

AFT Local 1904 showed support for NJCU colleagues and Council President Emari DiGiorgio and AFT NJ President Jen Higgins who testified at the Senate Higher Education hearing.

Image Above:  Brian Abrams, Vice President for Internal Affairs, AFT Local 1904; Susan Baglieri, Faculty Negotiator, AFT Local 1904;  Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904; Adityah Adarkar, Member, AFT Local 1904; Rich Wolfson, Past President, AFT Local 1904

Day of Action

On November 8th, AFT Locals 1904 and 6025 joined others in a Day of Action to launch the national campaign: Higher Ed: Saving Lives, Building Futures, Powering the Economy.  The campaign focused on a Food and Resource Drive for the Red Hawk Pantry.  The goal was to come together to keep the pantry shelves stocked and make a difference for students in need. To encourage participation, Local 1904 offered a pizza party to the department or area with the highest number of member donations and the librarians came out on top!  Thanks to all who donated and helped make this effort a success.

Image Above:  Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904; Mary Wallace, President, AFT Local 6025

Image Above: Donations

NJ Legislative Breakfast

On Wednesday, October 27th, the Council of New Jersey State College Locals held its first ever Legislative Breakfast for northern New Jersey. The event brought together AFT members from Montclair State University, William Paterson University, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Kean University, and New Jersey City University, with approximately ten state legislators, including key leaders on the assembly and senate higher education committees.

Image Above: Officers and other Members of Local 1904 and Local 6025

Image Above: Kristen Eddy, Member, AFT Local 1904; David Trubatch, Member, AFT Local 1904

Image Above: Antonio Talamo, Member, AFT Local 1904; Susan Hagen, Secretary, AFT Local 1904;  Lori  Petrozzello, Member, AFT Local 1904.

Fall 2025 Labor Walks

Across September and October, Local 1904 attended Labor Walks in Essex, Bergen, and Union counties. Attendees knocked on doors and engaged in union-member-to-union-member conversations, while delivering AFL-CIO developed election materials. These walks represented important opportunities for encouraging voter participation.

Image Above: Lori Petrozzello, AFT Local 1904 Member; Susan Hagen, Secretary, AFT Local 1904;  Karen Mingo-Campbell, Organizing Coordinator, AFT Local 1904

Image Above:  Brian Abrams, Vice President for Internal Affairs, AFT Local 1904;  Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904; Bill Sullivan, Vice President for External Affairs, AFT Local 1904; Jim Murphy, AFT Local 1904 Member; Karen Mingo-Campbell, Organizing Coordinator, AFT Local 1904; Susan Hagen, Secretary, AFT Local 1904;  Sandra Reid, AFT Local 1904 Member.

 

Image Above: Brian Abrams, Vice President for Internal Affairs, AFT Local 1904; Bill Sullivan, Vice President for External Affairs, AFT Local 1904; Susan Hagen, Secretary, AFT Local 1904;  Rich Wolfson, Past President, AFT Local 1904,  Jennifer Higgins, President, AFTNJ; Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904; Tameika Garret Ward, Newark Teachers Union; Silvia Pereira, Executive Vice President for Pre-K to 12, AFTNJ, Marva Wade, AFT Local 1904 Member.

Image Above:  Karen Mingo-Campbell, Organizing Coordinator, AFT Local 1904;  Sandra Reid, AFT Local 1904 Member; Jim Murphy, AFT Local 1904 Member

Image Above: Former State Assemblymember Tom Gilbin, Governor Mikie Sherrill, Rich Wolfson, Past President, AFT Local 1904; Laura Field, President, AFT Local 190.

Image Above: Brian Abrams, Vice President for Internal Affairs, AFT Local 1904; Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904;  Susan Hagen, Secretary, AFT Local 1904;  Rich Wolfson, Past President, AFT Local 1904; Michael Heller, Treasurer, AFT Local 1904; James Woodward, AFT Local 1904 Member; Laurie LaFever, Council VP and Local 1904 Member; Alyssa Nittolo (Local 6025)

AFT Higher Ed Locals Show Up for Mikie Sherrill Fundraiser

On Sunday, September 28th, Members of AFT Local 1904/6025 along with other higher ed leaders from around the state joined AFT National President Randi Weingarten in solidarity of support for Mikie Sherrill's New Jersey Governor election campaign.

AFT Locals at MSU Homecoming 2025!

On Saturday, September 27th, the AFT Local 1904 proudly joined with AFT Local 6025 (Adjuncts) and other members of our campus community in celebration of Montclair State University's Homecoming 2025!

Image Above: David Trubatch, Member, AFT Local 1904; Brian Abrams, Vice President for Internal Affairs, AFT Local 1904; Michael Heller, Treasurer, AFT Local 1904; Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904; Rich Wolfson, Past President, AFT Local 1904; Deb Corasio, Office Manager, AFT Local 1904; Ana Rita Mateo, Intern, AFT Local 1904

Image Above: Deb Corasio, Office Manager, AFT Local 1904;  Rich Wolfson, Past President, AFT Local 1904; Bill Sullivan, Vice President for External Affairs, AFT Local 1904; David Trubatch, Member, AFT Local 1904;  Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904; Brian Abrams, Vice President for Internal Affairs, AFT Local 1904; Michael Heller, Treasurer, AFT Local 1904

Image Above: Karen Mingo-Campbell, Organizing Coordinator, AFT Local 1904; Rich Wolfson, Past President, AFT Local 1904

Jennifer Higgins, AFTNJ President, Honored by African American Heritage Parade Organization

The African American Heritage Parade Organization (AAHPO) honored AFTNJ President Jennifer Higgins at its Heritage Awards Gala on, Friday, September 26, 2025 at the Gran Centurion, Clark, NJ.  The AAHPO is a non-profit event with the sole purpose to honor, celebrate, teach and showcase our heritage, culture, talent, children, leaders and to honor freedom. 

Image Above:  Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904; Jennifer Higgins, President, AFTNJ; Bill Sullivan, Vice President for External Affairs, AFT Local 1904

Image Above:  Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904; Rich Wolfson, Past President, AFT Local 1904; Bill Sullivan, Vice President for External Affairs, AFT Local 1904; Laurie LaFever, Council VP and Local 1904 Member; Dale Caldwell, Lieutenant Governor-Elect; Jennifer Higgins, President, AFTNJ; Charlie Hall, President, RWDSU Local 108; Mary Wallace, President, AFT Local 6025; Karen Sefring, AFT Local 2373 (Rowan University)

Image Above:  Mary Wallace, President, AFT Local 6025; Laurie LaFever, Council VP and Local 1904 Member; Jennifer Higgins, President, AFTNJ; Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904

AFT Locals 1905 and 6025 Team Up for Fall 2025 Voter Registration

On Wednesday, September 17th, AFT Local 1904 teamed up with AFT Local 6025 to host a voter registration table in Sprague Library.

Image Above: Karen Mingo-Campbell, Organizing Coordinator, AFT Local 1904; AFT Local 6025 Officers

34th Annual Celebration of Labor Parade

On Friday, Sept 5th, Local 1904 joined Essex West Hudson Labor Council for their 34th Annual Celebration of Labor Parade. The 2025 Grand Marshal was Governor Phil Murphy and Deputy Grand Marshal was Rosaura "Rosy" Bagolie.

Image Above: Rich Wolfson, Past President, AFT Local 1904; Laurie LaFever, Council VP and AFT Local 1904 Member; Governor Phil Murphy, Josephine Nagel, Recording Secretary AFTNJ; Adityah Adarkar, Member, AFT Local 1904; Susan Baglieri, Faculty Negotiator, AFT Local 1904; Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904; Jennifer Higgins, President, AFTNJ

Image Above: Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904; Charlie Wowkanech, President, NJ AFL-CIO; Mary Wallace, President, AFT Local 6025

Trenton Budget Hearings

On June 26th and June 30th, Council officers and members, including President Laura Field, stood united at the New Jersey Statehouse to fight for our hard-won collective bargaining agreement and the healthcare that protects our families.

 Photo, Above: Laura Field, President, Local 1904; Matt Wund, President, TCNJ Local; Dina Boero, Vice President College Council, Seth Carver, Stockton Local, Eari DiGiorgio, Council President; Stockton member; Patrick Nowlan, Rutgers AAUP-AFT

Photo, Above: Laura Field, President, Local 1904 and Emari DiGiogio, President, College Council 

AFT/AAUP's Building Our Power in Higher Ed Summer Institute 2025

This July (17th-20th), President Laura Field attended AFT/AAUP's Summer Institute 2025 at Morehouse College in Atlanta. Together with Council President Emari DiGiorgio and colleagues from other institutions from across the nation, she presented on a panel titled "Responding to Institutional Mergers, Program Cuts & Restructuring." The focus of the conference was to learn how to organize, communicate, and advocate strategically in the company of other higher ed activists.

Photo, Above: Emari DiGiogio, President, College Council and Laura Field, President, Local 1904

AFT Collective Bargaining Conference 2025

On July 22th and 23rd, Local 1904 Officers Hugh Curnutt, Sue Baglieri, and Laura Field, attended AFT's Collective Bargaining Conference in Washington DC.  The conference brought together AFT officers, leaders, and staff to learn about the latest trends and best practices in collective bargaining. The conference covered topics related to preparation for negotiations and contract campaigns, as well as the role of membership engagement and building relationships.

Photo, Above: Sue Baglieri, Faculty Negotiator, Local 1904; Kean Officer; Laura Field, President, Local 1904; James Castiglione, President, Kean Local; Bruce Waltuck, Kean Adjunct Local; Tina Zappile, Negotiator, Stockton Local; Hugh Curnutt, VP for Negotiations, Local 1904;  Emari DiGiogio, President, College Council; Leonard Grayson, President, Kean Adjunct Local; Ed Shannon, President, Ramapo Local; Natalja Manger, Events Co-Manager, Stockton Local.

AFT NJ Know Your Rights Training

On August 6th, Bill Sullivan, Vice President for External Affairs, and Laura Field, President attended AFT New Jerseys' Know Your Rights! How to Protest Safely & Peacefully at the Rutgers Labor Education Center in New Brunswick  The full-day mass mobilization training featured presentations led by representatives from AFT national and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey. Participants learned nonviolent protesting techniques, the best ways to organize a rally and much more.

   

New Jersey AFL-CIO's 2025 Legislative/Cope Endorsement Conference

On June 17th and 18th, AFT Local 1904 Officers joined other labor representatives from all over New Jersey in attendance of the New Jersey AFL-CIO's 2025 Legislative/COPE Endorsement Conference, "Rising the Meet the Moment," held in Atlantic City. Also in attendance were a number of national labor leaders, who offered wisdom, insight, and guidance on how our community can mobilize together to meet the demands of the moment. Conference delegates endorsed Congressional Representative Mikie Sherrill for NJ Governor, citing "her strong record of public service, her deep commitment to working families, and her unwavering support for organized labor." Delegates also endorsed various candidates for NJ Assembly, from a pool that included dozens of rank-and-file union members, whom they believe would amplify the voice of labor and serve as true allies to working families in NJ.

Bill Sullivan, Vice President for External Affairs, AFT Local 1904; Michael Heller, Treasurer, AFT Local 1904; Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904; Jen Higgins, President, AFTNJ; Rich Wolfson, Past President, AFT Local 1904

No Kings Rally at the Lyons VA Medical Center

On Saturday, June 14th, Local 1904 joined with a number of community organizations and labor unions including AFTNJ and the AFGE local that represents the workers at the Lyons VA Medical Center. The federal workers at the Lyons VA are anticipating RIF (Reduction In Force) notices soon. To help shine a light on to this situation, we rallied against H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” includes provisions that would change veterans’ benefits, weaken the protections that veterans have when they enter public service after retiring from the military, and will weaken the ability of the VA hospitals and the care promised to our veterans. In addition to this event, rallies were held around the nation, and our officers and members joined in a number of demonstrations on this day in places such as Asbury Park, Montclair, Stroudsburg, and Bloomfield.

Ed Shannon, President, Ramapo Local 2274; Michael Heller, Treasurer, AFT Local 1904; Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904; Shannon Case, Kean Local 2187; Bill Sullivan, Vice President for External Affairs, AFT Local 1904; James Castiglione, President, Kean Local 2187; Laurie LaFever, First Vice President, Montclair Adjunct Local 6025; Sue Tardi, President, William Paterson Local 1796; Two AFT Members; Brian Abrams, Vice President for Internal Affairs, AFT Local 1904; Rich Wolfson, Past President, AFT Local 1904; Sue Baglieri, Faculty Negotiator, AFT Local 1904

Bill Sullivan, Vice President for External Affairs, AFT Local 1904

Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904; Stephanie Young; Drew Wallace, Member, AFT Local 1904; Brian Abrams, Vice President for Internal Affairs, AFT Local 1904

Maughn Gregory, Vice President for Personnel, AFT Local 1904

Jim Murphy, Bloomfield College Liaison, AFT Local 1904

Bill Sullivan, Vice President for External Affairs, AFT Local 1904; Sue Baglieri, Faculty Negotiator, AFT Local 1904; Michael Heller, Treasurer, AFT Local 1904; Laura Field, President, AFT Local 1904; Brian Abrams, Vice President for Internal Affairs, AFT Local 1904

Essex West Hudson (EWH) Labor Council Scholarship Breakfast

On June 1st, Local 1904 Officers joined other Essex County labor leaders at The Chandelier in Belleville to celebrate this year's EWH Labor Council student scholarship award recipients. The scholarship awards the sons and daughters of members who have excelled in school. The scholarship recipients are "not simply chosen for their GPA’s. Many of these outstanding individuals have demonstrated the kind of leadership, family and caring qualities that form the foundation of our union."

Rich Wolfson, AFT Local 1904 Past President, Laurie LaFever, Montclair Adjunct Local 6025 First Vice President, Robin Pinckney-St. John, AFTNJ Pre-K-to-12 Vice President, Laura Field, AFT Local 1904 President, and Bill Sullivan, AFT Local 1904 Vice President for External Affairs

Bill Sullivan, AFT Local 1904 Vice President for External Affairs, Laura Field, AFT Local 1904 President, and Rich Wolfson, AFT Local 1904 Past President