Sharlene Laud

What does being a union member mean to me? It means being able to fight for solutions that work for us as staff.

Being a member of the URA union means I have a supportive group to fall back on to help me navigate university policies. I have learned so much information that…

I was incorrectly classified as a Class 3 employee for years. Thanks to a union grievance and arbitration, I received back pay due and the respect and dignity that a secure position provides. In addition, my younger daughter now has the ability to use tuition remission to complete her undergraduate degree as a benefit.

“Those in power do not want us to be part of our unions so it can fizzle away and they can have all the power. I remind other members here,…

I have been involved with unions since I was a child. My aunts and uncles were all factor workers and union members. As a young theater actor, I did many theater shows for Unions using the Augusto Boal techniques of Forum Theater. My wife and sons have degrees from Rutgers in Labor Studies. For me, being a union member is an integral part of who I am and the work I do.