Greetings,

As you are aware, the union’s leadership has been in discussions with the central administration over the past few months regarding the uncertainty of the state budget and its funding for the university. Now most of the uncertainties are known and the Board of Governors is expected to set tuition and fee rates while adopting a university budget at its July 14 meeting.

The state budget requires a sacrifice of approximately 3.5% from Rutgers personnel costs in this new fiscal year.  This sacrifice is taking the form of nine furlough days for all state workers. The central administration at Rutgers claims a much greater sacrifice is necessary.  For months the union has repeatedly requested budget information to substantiate any of the central administration's numbers and especially its claims that it is the faculty and staff, and not other agendas, who must sacrifice.  This lack of information combined with the plan by the central administration to unilaterally withhold our contractual raises this Friday suggests intransigence with respect to university priorities.  Whether Rutgers loses $15.5 million, or gets it back, seems to make no difference to the central administration's targeting of union–negotiated increases and the undercutting of our salaries and retirement benefits. 

The union has already proposed to delay the implementation of this year’s negotiated raises until the savings required in the state budget are achieved. This would result in a mid-year implementation for TA/GAs and a spring semester start for faculty and EOF counselor increases. We believe this sacrifice is both meaningful and sufficient.

With the full restoration to the university of $15.5 million in the final state budget, the additional revenues from increased enrollment and increased tuition rates ($20 - $30 million), and the personnel savings of approximately $25 million mentioned above, we believe that the central administration will not have a budget problem this coming year. In fact, the union has performed a professional review of recent years’ university budgets and there appear to be sufficient “rainy day funds” in reserve.

Tell the Board of Governors that the central administration needs to rearrange its priorities to focus on the instructors and staff that serve the students and the state of New Jersey. The BOG needs to protect student access and affordability. It needs to approve a fair budget that prioritizes student instruction and respects all negotiated contracts. Sign our online petition today: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/fair2009budget

We thank you for your support and we stand ready to take all necessary action to protect our contract from any unilateral change by the central administration.

In Solidarity,

Adrienne E. Eaton
President, Rutgers AAUP-AFT