Rutgers University faculty and staff rallied at the Newark campus to fire up union support for a strike authorization vote now underway. After working since last June without a contract, some 7,500 full- and part-time professors, graduate students and adjunct instructors could hit New Jersey’s state university with the first strike in its 255-year history.
“It’s time to bargain for our contracts. Our members are saying, we don’t want to go strike but if we have to, we will,” said AAUP-AFT President Rebecca Givan.
Negotiations have stalled over several issues, including salary demands, pay equity and a path to tenure for adjunct professors.
A spokeswoman for the university said Rutgers “…will continue to meet in good faith with them until we reach comprehensive agreements on mandatorily negotiable issues, including compensation … as quickly as possible.” Voting will last for 10 days and requires a simple majority to authorize a strike. Union leaders expect overwhelming support.
