Rutgers University should close offices when classes are canceled. We feel it is reckless and irresponsible to require non-essential staff to report to work in dangerous conditions.

More than 700 URA members and faculty supporters have signed our petition, “Rutgers University should close offices when classes are canceled” at http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/blizzard in support of the URA grievance. If you have not yet signed, please do so and we will present the petition at the grievance hearing and possibly do another newspaper advertisement. If you had signed, use the “tell-a-friend” feature to ask your colleagues to sign as well.

URA-AFT executive director Bob Cousins has informed the university that the union is grieving the decision to keep New Brunswick Campus offices open during the Feb. 10 blizzard with classes canceled and Newark and Camden Campuses closed. "The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the time in question," said Cousins. "In addition, the state closed all of its offices and people were strongly urged to stay off the roads. There is no doubt that this was a period of hazardous weather conditions and it was recognized that travel posed an imminent danger to life and property."

The union is calling for the following remedies:

URA-AFT members replied back to the union with the following reports of Feb. 10:

"It makes me feel that my status at the university is not valued. It is not fair to have staff risk their lives when faculty and students are told to stay home and stay safe."

"It seems that Rutgers-NB is more important than the state government."

"This is another example of the games that the University plays." 

Christie slashes $18.5M from University funding
Greg Flynn, Wednesday, February 17, 2010
[...]
URA-AFT members support the programs that deliver hundreds of millions of dollars to the University from external grants to conduct research, Bender said.
“Please keep in mind, when we are talking about unionized staff and faculty, these are the people who make the University work — from the faculty delivering quality education to staff providing comprehensive services necessary to support the University’s mission,” he said.
Bender said the University community should make the case for quality public education in New Jersey and at the University.
“Students, faculty and staff at the University need to let the governor and Trenton know that we want to see increased support for higher education,” he said.

With a fiscal state of emergency declaration from a hostile Governor and a series of so-called pension “reform” bills rapidly moving through the Democratically-controlled NJ Senate, public workers are facing a tough time in Trenton. This could mean increased health insurance contributions and diminished pension benefits for URA-AFT members.

URA-AFT New Brunswick Campus vice president Kathryn Neal has asked University Human Resources (UHR) for an explanation of why offices on the New Brunswick campus remained open Wednesday while Newark and Camden campuses were completed closed. “The National Weather Service issued a blizzard condition warning for New Jersey and Governor Christie authorized the closure of all state offices,” Neal noted.

By Sharon Adarlo/The Star-Ledger
February 10, 2010, 7:36PM

ESSEX -- The union representing Essex County workers filed a grievance against county officials because they did not shutdown offices and give employees a day off because of the treacherous snow storm, a union official said.

"The conditions are so bad that both employees and the public can’t get to work," said David Weiner, president of the CWA Local 1081, the union representing county workers. "Why couldn’t the county government be shut down. So little could have been gotten done anyway. It puts our members and pubic at risk."

A. For a day or days when the University is officially declared as “Closed” by the President or appropriate Vice-President, employees shall not be required to charge vacation days, administrative leave, or personal holidays to avoid loss of pay.

B. In addition, on any day or days in which all classes are cancelled on a particular campus (Camden, Newark, or New Brunswick) by the appropriate Vice-President or Provost due to a weather or other emergency situation, the following will apply regarding attendance:

URA members who regularly use their State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) prescription plan are upset about changes implemented by Medco, the new contractor administering the plan.

These concerns came to light at the January 11 general membership meeting. Now, URA is working with the Public Employees Committee of the New Jersey AFL-CIO to demand a complete accounting of the changes from SHPB officials and Medco itself.

Kay Schechter

Kay Schechter sees many potential problems. Schechter is a College Avenue steward whose family of five relies on her prescription coverage. “Depending on the drug, the differences can be very serious” she said. Schechter said that generics, such as those for attention deficit disorder, are not always as precise, and they may work or not, possibly leaving children “bouncing off the wall.” She asked what happens if the antibiotic that works for you is not covered. “If a doctor gives you x and then y and then z, you can be sick for a month and near pneumonia before you find another effective treatment.”

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE, January 23, 2010, NY Times
[Quotes Rutgers Professor Paula Voos]

For the first time in American history, a majority of union members are government workers rather than private-sector employees, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on Friday.

The Associated Press, January 22, 2010, 5:30AM, The Star-Ledger
TRENTON -- New Jersey's comptroller said his office will increase its scrutiny of sick time usage by public employees to make sure those days are not being used for personal business.

AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka says the Massachusetts election results should be a wake up call for activists to fight harder than ever for issues important to working families.

Visit the State Treasury Division of Pensions and Benefits at http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions to find publications and online services.

Oliver leads assembly members in oath of office.

New Jersey’s 80 assembly representatives were sworn into office January 12 as Sheila Y. Oliver became the 169th Assembly Speaker. Assemblywoman Oliver is only the second African American women in the country to hold such an office, according to URA-AFT legislative chairwomen Helen Pirrello.