Categories
2022 Contract

Statement on MPSC Raises

What Do We Want? A Fair Contract.

When do we want it? Now!

URA members,

We know that a fair contract is essential for our membership. As management continues to hold out on salary increases, with disrespectful offers like 2% annual raises as inflation rates remain well above 7%, we recently learned that non-aligned employees, or “MPSC’s” (Managerial, Professional, Supervisory and Confidential) at Rutgers University may be scheduled to receive a 3% raise retroactive to July 1, 2022. This has not been officially confirmed yet.

We know some of the highest-paid employees at our university are included in the category of MPSC, including Deans and Directors. A 3% raise for these managers amounts to much more than it would for our members, who often make below the mid-range of our salary grade. 

We know our members deserve more. A fair raise for all is essential given high levels of inflation, increased housing costs and living expenses in New Jersey, additional out-of-pocket health insurance costs, and the other financial pressures on our members. 

We are holding firm on our demands for more than 3% across-the-board raises. We are fighting for longevity raises for longtime members, meaningful across-the-board raises, and a salary package that provides an increase above the inflation rate so that we can work with dignity. 

Historically, when we fight for better salary improvements all members of the University community, including non-aligned administrators like our immediate supervisors, benefit. Unions make Rutgers better. 

Our power lies in collective action. Join us Tuesday, February 28 at noon for the Board of Governors Rally at Newark or parallel actions at The Yard in New Brunswick or the Camden Campus Center.

In solidarity, 

Your URA Bargaining Team

Categories
2022 Contract Uncategorized

Contract Negotiations Membership Escalation Plan 2022-2023

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Goals

Our union is negotiating for these critical bargaining demands:

  1. Raises and longevity pay;
  2. Telework with fairness for non-remote staff;
  3. Reduce employee’s portion of health insurance premiums; and,
  4. Well-defined career paths for staff.

Escalating Action

A Union escalation plan guides members in putting pressure on the employer to secure a fair, negotiated contract.

Actions are taken on a schedule that escalates pressure on management in various ways to express that we deserve a fair contract and to show what we are worth.

Principles

Our contract campaign is based on the following principles:

  • Majority Membership Decision-making that leads to actions performed by a largerand larger number of members.
  • Concerted Action for Healthy Boundaries: adhering to work-to-rule by doing the jobs we are paid for, and no more:
    o No additional responsibilities without additional compensation; o Arriving on-time, but not early;
    o Taking a full lunch break away from the desk;
    o Leaving on-time, but not late.
  • Workplace Actions: visibility and protest actions that carry our message to management and the public. We will build greater member participation and commitment until we approve a fair contract.
  • Staff-centered Timeline and Tactics which respect our labor coalition partners.

Goals and Principles approved February 13, 2023 General Membership Meeting

Categories
2022 Contract Off Campus

RSVP for URA Training AND Holiday Party on December 12

December 12 is going to be a busy day! Learn, build our union and come together as friends. 

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  • Steward/Building Rep Training 1:00 to 4:00 p.m: A steward-building rep training on membership conversations and contract enforcement. Stewards and building reps will learn how to converse with their colleagues on union related topics including our contractual protections on excessive workload. 
  • Mental Health Peer Promoter Training 1:00 to 4:00 p.m: All members are invited to train as mental health peer promoters. Mental health and wellness in the workplace affect us all. Learn skills to use and share. 

When you commit to attend either of these trainings, we will provide release time so you don’t have to use your own paid time off. Provide your supervisor’s name and email on the RSVP to expedite processing. 

  • Dec 12 Holiday Social at Pino’s, 13 N 4th Ave. Highland Park 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.: Then, join our Holiday Social on Monday, December 12, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., at Pino’s Lounge. Food, drinks, and time to have some joyful conversations as we look forward to a much-deserved holiday break. All members are welcome. 

RSVP for all events >>

Categories
2022 Contract

November Bargaining Update

Our communications committee has created this easy one page document so you know what we are fighting for in our successor contract. In order to achieve a strong contract, we must all step in to fight for it together.  

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Categories
2022 Contract

Tell the BOG: Bargain A Fair Contract

URA members have been working for 161 days without a contract as of Dec. 6. Despite this, our members have continued to provide invaluable services to this institution, ensuring that our students are admitted, housed, fed, counseled, and guided towards graduation. Management has continued this pattern of surface bargaining even as we, like other workers at this university, experience record levels of inflation, confront staffing shortages that increase our members’ workloads, and will soon be burdened with rising healthcare costs that Rutgers has done nothing to alleviate. Please sign on to tell Tell Rutgers Board of Governors to direct management to bargain a fair contract.

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Categories
2022 Contract

Come to December 6 BOG Action

We have been working without a contract since July 1, 2022. We are doing more, but our pay doesn’t go as far as even a year ago. We offer serious, important proposals when we bargain. Management’s response? NO, or even worse, no response. 

It is time the Board of Governors hear our frustration. Gather with staff, faculty and students on December 6 at 11:30am in New Brunswick to march from Voorhees Mall to rally at Winants Hall and in Newark outside the Robeson Campus Center.We are only as strong as we are together and will make change collectively.

Sign up to come to the action >>