Union of Rutgers Administrators - AFT, Local 1766

Greetings,

URA-AFT Boycotts Rutgers President's Address Friday
Stephanie, Rob and Nat in protective gear
Hazmat suits protect URA-AFT members Stephanie Atkins, Rob Pastorio-Newman and Nat Bender from "toxic environmental imbalance" of president's address. 

See more photos at http://www.uraaft.org/node/269

Press Coverage from www.ura-aft.org

Corzine Answers AFT NJ Questionnaire; Christie and Daggett Fail to Respond

AFT NJ distributed candidate questionnaires to Gov. Jon S. Corzine, Chris Christie and Chris Daggett. Only Gov. Corzine responded. We have posted his responses at http://www.uraaft.org/downloads/corzinequestionnaire.pdf and will have additional information as it becomes available.

Gov. Corzine
Gov. Corzine		 Selected quotes:
  • "I believe in making higher education available to all New Jerseyans pursuing an education"
  • "Input from university employees could only benefit the good work of public college and university boards of trustees/governors. I look forward to working with you to determine the best way to get more input from organized labor in a way that fulfills each school’s educational mission."
  • "Protecting the financial security of our education workers is always a priority."

    • Campaign 2009 Activities Kick Off

    The URA-AFT is coordinating two important weekly activities.

    Labor Walk Saturdays: Starting in New Brunswick or Cherry Hill, members will meet up, receive campaign information and a brief training then be paired up to speak with other union members about this campaign.
    Saturday, Oct. 3
    9:00 am to 12:00 noon
    Starting from: IBEW, 1295 Livingston Ave.
    North Brunswick, NJ 08902
    Contact Nat Bender 732-745-0300 (URA office) or cell 908-377-0393 or nbender@ura-aft.org

    or
    South Jersey Center Labor Council
    2240 Marlton Pike (in rear of strip mall near Shoprite)
    Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
    Contact: Michael Cain, 651-442-8031 or michaelmcain@yahoo.com

    Make Phone Calls Wednesday: Starting Wednesday, Sept. 30, URA-AFT members will be making phone calls to encourage other AFT members to utilize the new Vote By Mail system and increase participation.
    IBEW, 1295 Livingston Ave.
    North Brunswick, NJ 08902
    5:00-8:00 p.m.
    Email legislative chair Helen Pirrello hpirrello@ura-aft.org

    Gubernatorial Debate Rally
    Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009
    Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m.
    Where: NJN Studios, 25 Stockton Street, Trenton, NJ 08608
    If you are going and would like to wear a blue AFT t-shirt, please contact the URA office at 732-745-0300 or email union@ura-aft.org and we will get you one.

    Contract Committee Meeting
    Thursday, Oct. 15
    12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
    Meeting room A, Douglass Campus Center
    We will be talking about supervisors: what makes a good one, what makes a bad one?
    All members welcome. Please rvsp to kneal@rci.rutgers.edu.

    New Steward Training Oct. 7
    Union stewards are a vital communication and problem-solving link between other URA-AFT members and the university. Stewards keep members informed about the status of our contract and work on resolving problems in their departments and around campus to correct potential contract violations as soon as possible. When there are grievances, stewards represent our members and participate in the process through arbitration.

    URA leadership is conducting a small group training for new stewards next Wednesday afternoon Oct. 7. If you are interested in being a steward, please contact grievance committee chair Darlene Smith at dsmith@ura-aft.org.

    Show Your Solidarity With Stella D’Oro
    Show your support for the employees of Stella D’Oro by telling the owners that you oppose the re-location of the company by visiting http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/stelladoro?rk=-dgVU0MqP279E. There is also a rally this Friday, October 2nd at the plant’s location, 237th Street and Broadway at 3pm.

    After winning a NLRB ruling putting them back to work this summer after an 11-month strike, the owners of Stella D’Oro’s Bronx-based factory announced that they would close and move production to a non-union plant out of state. The 135 or so workers represented by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 50 would be out of work.

    Management company Brynwood Partners had refused to negotiate the compromises and propositions put forth by members of BCTGM Local 50 to counter the harsh cuts proposed by the owners when it came time to renew the last contract. Brynwood Partners had proposed wage cuts of up to 25 percent, increasing health insurance premiums, cutting holidays, vacation and sick pay as well as cutting extra pay for working Saturdays. The workers went strike August 2008 and were reinstated in early July 2009 through court order.

    For more information, see http://www.stelladorostrike.com