Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee Public Hearings

When:  Tuesday, March 13, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Montclair State University's Conference Center, University Hall 7th Floor

This year the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee is conducting a public hearing on the FY 2013 State Budget at Montclair State University. Rich Wolfson, President of AFT Local 1904, will be speaking on behalf of the Local. We expect other Locals in the Council of New Jersey State College Locals to also give testimony as well as representatives from AFTNJ and other labor organizations with representatives in Northern New Jersey.

You also have the opportunity to participate if you would like the committee to hear your concerns and perspectives about the support the State of New Jersey provides to higher education, education in general or any topic of your choice relative to the budget. If you wish to register to speak call 609-847-3105 or click here.  The morning session is closed.

If you are attending, please stop by AFT Local 1904's hospitality suite in the Michelli Conference Room (UH 2160) on the 2nd Floor of University Hall.  Refreshments will be provided throughout the day and you can view the hearing from there as well. We will also have buttons and AFT t-shirts available for participants to wear too. To RSVP for the hospitality suite check out our event page on Facebook.

MSU's Affirmative Action Day

Anti-Bullying and the Law: 
From the Classroom to the Office

When: Tues., Mar. 20th @ 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Where: University Hall, Room 1070

Speakers:
NJ State Senator Linda R. Greenstein
Primary sponsor of legislation: “Health Workplace Act”

NJ State Assemblywoman Valerie V. Huttle Primary sponsor of law: “Anti-bullying Bill of Rights Act”

Contact Cindy Meneghin (meneghinc@mail.montclair.edu) for more information or view the flier.

Sign the Petition for a Law to Protect U.S. Workers

February 2, 2012 Board of Trustees Statement

Here is the Board of Trustees Statement that I delivered last Thursday. It is time that the Board and Administration know we stand together for a fair contract, and do not want our institution to abandon the community and humanity that we have built up over many years. When I speak, the Board members are largely expressionless like poker players after a bet. They never respond or ask a question. The meeting is scripted with each vote unanimous with never a question or discussion.

It is time for you to chime in and let them know we care as a community how each of us is treated. You can do that by writing to the Board to voice your opinion. You can also come to the next public meeting and sit in the gallery. Their meetings, as important as they are, rarely last more than a half hour.

You can also come to one of the Wednesday Solidarity Walks. Those also will only take a small portion of your time and can make a big difference. We have to get the Administration to notice that we stand together or they will continue to ignore us and the entire campus community when they make their decisions.

I hope to see you Tuesday, February 7th at the Day of Unity and at this Wednesday's Solidarity Walk. The next Board of Trustees meeting on April 5th. It would be wonderful to see some smiling faces in the room as I address the Board once again. It may be the only voice from the campus community they hear.

In solidarity,

Rich Wolfson