Dozens of faculty, graduate workers and union advocates gathered at Rutgers University in New Brunswick Tuesday calling for the university to provide fair contracts. Their demands include equal pay, higher raises and improved working conditions. Rebecca Givan, president of Rutgers AAUP-AFT, which represents thousands of workers, said they have been working without a contract since their last one expired at the end of June. A spokesperson for Rutgers said it continues to negotiate in good faith and on a regular basis with Rutgers’ unions.
“It’s extremely frustrating especially given all the work grad students do. We teach classes we are doing cutting-edge research. We mentor students. We do all the things that makes Rutgers the institution that it is. And we’re not compensated in a way that reflects what we do and possible for us to live in this area and not have to take on multiple jobs to support ourselves and our families,” said Liana Katz, vice president for graduate workers with Rutgers AAUP-AFT.
The workers maintain they want to negotiate a contract that’s fair to everyone but that if no progress is made soon, they could begin to discuss a possible strike.
