The undersigned protest Rutgers management’s disregard for our union contracts and our personal economic needs.  Since January of this year, we have heard from management that Rutgers is facing an economic crisis.  Yet, dozens of executive level positions were filled, while our co-workers have been laid off or threatened with non-reappointment for vague reasons of “budget cutbacks.”

We have lobbied the Federal and State governments to provide funding to Rutgers.  For years, this was an effort led by management—this year, we did it ourselves.  Budget cuts were restored.  Stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act were made available. Research money is flowing faster than ever due to faculty and staff efforts. We believe that Federal and State funding to Rutgers is intended to maintain services to students and to the people of New Jersey as well as to protect jobs and stimulate economic activity.

Rutgers management has decided not to honor our contracts.  Without negotiating with faculty and staff unions, they have chosen not to implement the salary increases and increments for July 1, 2009.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Instead of imposing this wage freeze, we call upon Rutgers management to:

* Honor existing collective bargaining agreements-no unilateral changes to salaries and working conditions

* Rescind and stop layoffs

* Provide full documentation of any budgetary shortfall to union representatives

* Stop diverting funds from our payroll to executive compensation

The New Jersey FY 2010 Budget requires Rutgers to promote student access to higher education through a 3% cap on tuition and fees and to achieve personnel savings equivalent to the state furlough program.

We call on the Board of Governors (BOG) to do this without prejudice to our unionized workforce. Such actions would show consistency with the goals of the federal stimulus program: protect student access to education, maintain jobs, and promote economic recovery.

Signed by:

Campaign Launched:
July 02, 2009