of Higher Education Labor New Jersey VOICE Published by the Council of New Jersey State College Locals (AFT, AFL-CIO) 1435 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083 April 2011 NEGOTIATIONS WITH STATE BEGIN IN MAY mid-March each local had designated its representatives to President’s Report the Council’s bargaining team. The team reviewed the sur- Nicholas C.Yovnello vey results and the staff representative recommendations. n this era of political one-liners from On April 8, the Council’s full-time/part time unit and ad- our governor, the media is quick to junct faculty unit bargaining teams developed bargaining Icapture and spread the latest Chris- proposals to present to the State. tie sound bytes. There is litt le interest in Our negotiations with the State are scheduled to begin on covering issues in depth or fact-checking May 16, with subsequent dates set for later in May and June. the governor’s statements. Take collec- In preparation for the re-negotiation of our Statewide Agree- tive bargaining, for example. Governor ment, we have joined with other state employee unions to Christie’s one-liner that he favors collective bargaining is endorse a comprehensive proposal on state health benefi ts. contradicted by his steadfast refusal to negotiate over health The comprehensive proposal off ers a modifi cation to the benefi ts. Christie states that “dozens” of states deny collec- current 1.5% cost sharing agreement and it includes vari- tive bargaining rights to state employees – when in fact only ous ideas on cost savings. However, the CWA leadership in- fi ve states have enacted such legislation. Not “dozens”, not forms us that there has been no progress at all at the CWA one “dozen” – fi ve: Georgia, North Carolina, South Caroli- bargaining table. Instead, the State has proposed to remove na, Texas and Virginia. The major news outlets present these all language on health benefi ts from the CWA contracts In falsehoods unchallenged and can’t wait to set up their cam- fact, the State’s position is that health benefi ts are non-ne- eras for another of Christie’s staged “town hall meetings” gotiable. Senate bill S-2718, introduced by Senator Sweeney, where citizens, who have the nerve to disagree with him, would eliminate collective bargaining on health benefi ts but are shouted down when they att empt to make their points would reduce premium sharing costs for lower salaried em- when Christie refuse to engage in meaningful dialogue. ployees while phasing in higher premium sharing over four During February, the Council sent an electronic survey years as compared to Christie’s proposal. There is a chance to its members soliciting opinions on bargaining proposals. that Sweeney’s bill will be passed and both he and Assem- At the beginning of March, Council staff representatives re- bly Speaker Oliver are open to the unions helping craft de- viewed the record of grievances that occurred over the last sired modifi cations, which may also include a sunset clause. four years and other contract disputes and developed a list A worse case scenario is that Christie could impose his own of recommended changes in the grievance procedure. By changes at negotiations if impasse is reached. Soaring healthcare costs are not new. Unions know this Also In This Issue – we have known for years that health care costs have been outrunning the rate of infl ation. Health care cost coverage Should I Retire Before the Current State-Union and employee contributions have always been on the table Agreement Expires on June 30? ...... 2 at past negotiations. In order to arrive at past agreements, Making a Difference Every Day, Our Work, state employee unions have sett led for salary freezes or min- Our Union, Our Students - AFT Higher imal increases to off set the State’s increased costs. At times Education Conference ...... 3 we have agreed to higher co-pays and, in the last round of Higher Ed Tenure Legislation negotiations, we agreed to premium sharing. The Coun- Temporarily on Hold ...... 5 cil has further att empted to constructively address rising AFT NJ State Federation “One Union-One Voice” healthcare costs by negotiating a Labor-Management Cost Conference ...... 5 Containment Committ ee (See Lett er of Agreement V of our Council Offi cers Elected ...... 6 Agreement). However, the State has been reluctant to em- Council Locals Stage “We Are One” brace union proposals to help control costs over the years. Events on Campuses ...... 7 As a result, there has not been a meeting of the committ ee for over seven years.

Continued on next page We anticipate that this will be the most difficult negotia- President’s Report tions that the Council and the other state public employee (from previous page) unions have ever faced. Governor Christie’s ham-handed plan to legislate health Finally, the recent NJ Supreme Court finding that Chris- benefits will hurt lower paid public employees the most; tie’s 2011 budget shortchanged public school funding bodes especially young employees who have just started their ca- ill for public higher education across the state. If there is reers and families. Coupled with arbitrary limits on salary court-ordered restoration of public education funding cuts, increases, the imposition of large health benefits contribu- the Governor has indicated he will further reduce the State’s tions is a direct attack on living standards. Like the rest of commitment to higher education funding. So far, Governor Christie’s initiatives, the governor’s healthcare legislation is Christie has proposed flat funding for our institutions that designed to weaken union power and augment the author- does not provide for payment of increments. This will make ity of management. The burden of the State’s fiscal woes it that much harder to make economic gains at the bargain- falls directly on our backs, while the Governor continues to ing table. Echoing the Race to the Top debacle, New Jersey default on the State’s pension contributions and shower the citizens and NJ higher education will continue to suffer be- wealthy and large corporations with tax cuts. cause of the governor’s mistakes. The Governor just released some more details of his plan In unity there is strength. Work with your local to build to legislate health benefits including possibly eliminating NJ up your membership and increase COPE contributions for Direct 15 and offering health plans with fewer benefits. Ac- the November elections. You cannot afford to sit out this tual details and analyses remain elusive. If Christie wants election. Just imagine for one minute the consequences of a cooperative reform and cost containment, he should negoti- Republican takeover of the Legislature - Wisconsin or worse. ate and not dictate how health benefits costs will be restruc- tured. – • –

Should I Retire Before the Current State-Union Agreement Expires on June 30?

et’s face it, the breath and scale new Agreement?” We can’t answer eligibility requirement from 25 years of of attacks on public employees that question for you, but we can say pension credit service to 30 years. If his Lin the media are unprecedented that if you have accrued twenty-five proposed legislation comes to pass, it and our Governor has made it clear years of pension credit service by June would mean that those employees who that he intends to hit us hard during 30, 2011 to be eligible for health care in have not accrued 25 years of pension negotiations, especially over pension retirement under the terms of the cur- credit service after June 30 would then benefits. He also wants to legislate rent contract, your benefits in Letter of need 30 years of service to be eligible health care benefits. It is not surprising Agreement IV (Health Care Benefits for health benefits in retirement and then, that in the last couple of months in Retirement) are guaranteed. Thus, most likely at a much higher cost to the Council office has received dozens there is no reason to rush into retire- them for premium sharing. of calls from senior staff and faculty ment, especially if you need more time If you do plan to retire soon, call the asking if this is the time to retire. to add to your ABP account. Council office at 908-964-8476 or send Most members ask two things: As for future retirees under a suc- an email to [email protected] to request a “Should I retire under the terms of the cessor agreement, the Governor is pro- retirement checklist. current Agreement?” and “What will posing a 30% premium sharing cost – • – our retirement benefits look like in the in retirement and an increase in the

MEMBER ASSISTANCE SERVICE AVAILABLE If you need assistance with stress, mental health prob- or Other relationship issues - then don’t hesitate to con- lems or substance abuse that is affecting your job per- tact HCAM. formance—or if anyone in your family is experiencing This is a free service available to the entire bar- similar problems—help is available from Healthcare As- gaining unit—and yet another good reason to join the sistance with Member Support (HCAMS). If you have UNION. one or more of the following problems: Drug and alco- hol dependence; Stress related conditions; Sleeplessness; We encourage you to visit their website at www. Uncontrollable anger; Difficulties in concentrating; Dis- hcams.org or call 1-800-828-7826 ciplinary issues relating to health; Adolescent problems;

2 COLLEGE VOICE Making A Difference Every Day, Our Work, Our Union, Our Students - AFT Higher Education Conference

n April 1-3, 2011, AFT mem- solidarity with our brothers and sisters bers from across the nation in the NJ labor and social justice move- Ogathered for AFT’s Higher Ed- ments, while Siefring provided an ucation Issues Conference in Philadel- analysis of the MOA on Wage Freeze phia, PA. Held at the Sheraton in Cen- and Furloughs in relation to avoiding ter City, the largest unionized hotel in professional staff layoffs. Both work- Philadelphia, the theme of the confer- shops were well attended. ence was Making A Difference Every All of the workshops were themati- Day, Our Work, Our Union, Our Stu- cally designed to highlight the inter- dents. All sectors of the AFT nation- dependence of the success of our stu- wide were represented—senior public dents and the work we do every day. MSU Delegates working on student out- colleges/universities, county colleges, Presenters emphasized that we need comes in breakout session K-12 and health care. to be proactive in ensuring the contin- ued success of our students and insti- tion Services, who provided a state- tutions given the lingering impact of by-state budget breakdown. Schroeder the financial crisis and the rightward then introduced AFT President Randi shift of the political landscape at the Weingarten who delivered a rousing federal and state levels. That point was speech about the broad-based national driven home in the workshop titled, coalition of community groups, unions The Role of Professional Staff in Stu- and citizens that organized the “We dent Success/The Union on Campus, Are One” events. Weingarten brought where presenters illustrated strate- members to their feet when she called Nick Yovnello presenting “Building gies that professional staff can use to for an end to bashing and blaming Coalitions” Workshop not only ensure student success, but teachers and other public employees also to show ways the local union can for state budget problems they did not The Council was well represented promote students’ values and support cause. The opening plenary concluded at the Conference by members from their needs. Professional staff should with a presentation by Barbara Bowen, the Rowan, Kean, William Paterson, learn to redefine the work they do so President, Professional Staff Congress, Montclair and New Jersey City Uni- that students, their families and man- CUNY/AFT Vice President, who re- versity locals. Nick Yovnello, Council agement understand that they are on galed the crowd with her moving ac- President and Karen Siefring, President the frontline in student services and count of the time she spent with the of Local 2373 (Rowan) were present- know what students and institutions Wisconsin protesters. Bowen ended ers for sessions titled “Building Effec- need to succeed. by introducing Bryan Kennedy, Presi- tive Coalitions with Labor/Campaign Planning” and “Strategies for Dealing In addition to workshops, with Professional Staff Layoffs and the conference featured fo- Furloughs/The Union on Campus” rums and lectures exploring respectively. Yovnello highlighted the a wide range of topics such Council’s past and present work in as state-level advocacy and federal policy work, job se- curity for contingent faculty, combating fraud and abuse at for-profit colleges and uni- versities and how unions can increase gender, racial and ethnic diversity in the acad- emy. There were several plenary sessions dent of AFT Wisconsin and protester — the first included opening remarks extraordinaire who received a standing by AFT Vice-President Sandra Schro- ovation on behalf of his union for its Karen Siefring (2nd from left) presenting eder on the national fiscal and political phenomenal work fighting Governor “Strategies for Dealing With Professional Scott Walker, who as we well know, Staff Layoffs” crises, followed by Ed Muir, Deputy Director, AFT Research and Informa- stole collective bargaining rights from

April 2011 Continued on next page 3 lauded for his work on behalf of con- AFT Higher Education tingent, part-time and adjunct faculty, Conference but mostly, he will be remembered for (from previous page) his kindness and compassion. public employees. Kennedy was joined Council president Yovnello claimed by leaders from the Teaching Assis- that “this AFT Higher Education Issues tants’ Association at the University of Conference was one of the most inter- Wisconsin-Madison and the Milwau- esting and indeed timely considering kee Graduate Assistants Association at the animosity that Governor Christie UW-Milwaukee. These members, “the has exhibited toward public employees NJCU Delegates vanguard of our movement,” as Ken- and that we are anticipating extremely nedy called them, led the vibrant oc- College in Sacramento, California. unpleasant contract negotiations be- cupation of Wisconsin’s Capitol build- Parker was recognized for founding ginning in May. We take strength from ing. Such a passionate movement, said The Alpha Academy, which runs a our brothers and sisters in Wisconsin Kennedy, demonstrates the determina- series of mentoring and tutoring pro- who, by their protests against a bully tion that will carry the unions through grams for young African-American governor, showed us that the labor this fight. males, ages 12 to 18, parent support movement is not dead in this country; program and green technology classes. rather it is in the process of reinventing itself.” Labor activist and author Amy Dean gave the annual Polishook luncheon Overall, conference participants lecture. Dean’s unique perspective on were given valuable tools to build ef- organizing comes from her time as fective campaign planning and alli- president and CEO of the South Bay ances with the communities we serve; AFL-CIO Labor Council where she was members learned the basics of navigat- instrumental in creating community ing both political and academic power based alliances that allowed labor to structures, creating greater faculty and help shape the economic development staff diversity, staving off privatiza- of Silicon Valley, CA. She called on par- tion, developing strong communica- ticipants to help reinvent the U.S. labor tion skills and building coalitions in Rowan & MSU delegates at “Legal Issues” movement by forming similar coali- solidarity with AFT affiliates. All of workshop. tions, stating that “if the labor move- the sessions were premised on not just ment is to change its future, it must be- surviving working under more chal- The second plenary was titled, Tying come a community-based organization lenging conditions than ever before, Our Political Efforts to AFT Higher as much as a workplace organization.” but also becoming stronger and more Education Priorities, which included united for having struggled together a viewing of AFT’s latest video called The luncheon also included a tribute and to reverse the negative trends to Making A Difference. It showed that de- to the late Lou Stollar, known as one reduce the quality of higher education spite the nasty political environment, of AFT’s higher education pioneers. for our students. Lou was a psychology professor at the AFT state and local affiliates across The conference ended with closing the country are making a difference Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) for 48 years, serving as the president of remarks from Sandra Schroeder. She by restoring balance to policy debates reminded us that it’s up to us to spread and presenting their own solutions for the United College Employees (UCE) of FIT from 1968 to 2004. He helped the truth — that faculty, staff and oth- how to work cooperatively to move the er public workers did not create the economy forward. FIT become one of the first colleges to have a collective bargaining agree- states’ budget crises and that our pay After the video came the presenta- ment, which remains one of the stron- and benefits are not the problem tion of the Every Day Hero Award to gest contracts in the country. He was – • – Travis Parker from Cosumnes River NOW MORE THAN EVER, SIGN UP payroll deductions – you set the amount you wish to con- tribute from your paycheck. COPE funds are needed more FOR COPE! now than ever before to support legislators who will pro- Our governor and his anti-union allies in the State Sen- tect our bargaining rights and the labor agenda. Without a ate and Assembly constantly attack our contracts, wages, union-friendly legislature there will be no checks and bal- pension and benefits. COPE (Committee for Political Edu- ances – New Jersey could become another Wisconsin. cation) funds your union’s legislative efforts and supports Ask your local (or call the Council at 908-964-8476) for a candidates who support and promote issues important to COPE card today! you and your union. COPE contributions come through

4 COLLEGE VOICE HIGHER ED TENURE LEGISLATION TEMPORARILY ON HOLD

nder current law, a faculty member of a State college A-3357 was voted out of the Assembly Higher Education or university qualifies for tenure after employment Committee in January 2011. Due to the Council’s lobbying Uat the college for 5 consecutive calendar years; or 5 efforts, the bill was amended to make tenure requirement consecutive academic years, together with employment at a six year period and to conform to the language of the ex- the beginning of the next academic year; or the equivalent isting law so tenure would be consistent among the state of more than 5 academic years within a period of any 6 con- colleges and universities. It would also allow for six years secutive academic years. within a seven year period to allow for medical or maternal Two of Governor Christies’ “tool kit bills” address the is- leaves of absence similar to the current law. Further, the bill sue of duration of the probationary period for tenure track would allow boards of trustees to grant immediate tenure faculty. A-2964, sponsored by Assemblyman Weber (R-26) to new faculty members who were previously tenured at an and S-2171, sponsored by Senator Bateman (R-16) would accredited institution. give the individual boards of trustees the authority to ex- The Council remains opposed to this bill. The existing tend the probationary period beyond five years. Neither bill system has worked reasonably well. Why “fix” something has moved out of committee. that is not “broken?” A five year probationary period is long The detrimental nature of these bills is obvious. Institu- enough. Although Rutgers has a six year probationary pe- tions could move tenure goalposts at their discretion, fos- riod for tenure track faculty, new hires receive a three year tering confusion and uncertainty among faculty on tenure appointment and if renewed, receive a second three year ap- tracks. Different probationary periods would exist from pointment before qualifying for tenure. The pre-tenure pro- institution to institution, causing higher faculty turnover. bationary period in the CUNY and SUNY systems is seven If promoting the devolution of our state college/university years, but in the Pennsylvania state college system it is five. system into semi-private fiefdoms is the Governor’s objec- Nevertheless, with greater demands being placed on our tive, these bills make perfect sense. But if creating a stron- faculty to publish, there may be an advantage to providing ger coordinated system of public higher education in New an additional year for research to come to fruition. Should Jersey is our goal, these bills are a frontal assault on faculty A-3357 advance further in the State Legislature, the Council rights. will be vigilant in securing provisions that are most benefi- Democratic Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt issued her cial to our tenure track faculty. This bill is on hold until the own bill making the probationary period for tenure track State budget is finalized. faculty at State or county colleges between five to seven – • – years as determined by each board of trustees, which was meant as an alternative to A-2964/S-2172. .

AFT NJ State Federation “One Union-One Voice”Conference

On April 15-16, 2011, AFT-NJ held its One Union-One also given to Senators Ron Voice, Legislative/Education Issues Conference at the Hil- Rice, Jeff Van Drew and Lin- ton Hotel in East Brunswick. The conference was organized da Greenstein. to help all sectors of the AFT in New Jersey plan for the bat- Council delegate and tles we face as we head into the 2012 election cycle. New Jersey City University Some of the conference workshop topics included how (NJCU) Local 1839 mem- to wage successful COPE campaigns and develope effective ber Lilliam Rosado was collective bargaining strategies during a fiscal crisis, how presented with the AFT-NJ to ensure student success and how to engage members and Humanitarian Award in Council President Nick Yovnello build community outreach programs, etc. recognition of her efforts to present Assemblyman Nelson eliminate barriers to afford- On behalf of AFT-NJSF, Council president Nicholas Albano with a Labor Award Yovnello presented Assemblyman Nelson Albano a Part- able health care in at-risk ner with Labor Award, with. Yovnello stated that Albano, communities by educating who is also a shop steward for the United Food Commercial tomorrow’s health care advocates. Workers, has been a staunch ally of New Jersey’s working Lilliam is a trained community health educator. She is a families and a true partner with labor. Labor awards were former resident of East Harlem where she worked with the Boriquen Community Health Clinic. She is currently a pro-

April 2011 (Continued on next page) 5 Council Officers Elected

t the April 8 Council Meet- Public Employees Committee of the has served as the Internal Vice Presi- ing Election Committee Chair NJ AFL-CIO and traveled extensively dent of the Local, and served as Acting ARalph Edelbach announced representing us in a variety of venues. President of the Local from September the following results for the election of In 2006 Sullivan chaired the Council’s 2010 to December 2010. Council Officers: President – Nicholas constitution committee, which pro- Arlene Schor returns as Adjunct Fac- C. Yovnello* (Rowan); Executive Vice duced the 2006 major revision of the ulty Representative. Arlene is an Ad- President, Bill Sullivan (MSU); Vice council constitution and bylaws. He junct faculty member of Kean Univer- President, Susanna Tardi* (WPUNJ); also chaired the Council’s grievance sity and has been a member of several Treasurer, Muroki Mwaura* (WPUNJ); committee. Bill is a lifelong union ac- unions for over 40 years, including the Secretary, Judy Matthew* (WPUNJ); tivist having led coworkers at the NJEA, the AFT, the NJ Association of Legislative Representative, Sarah Har- Elizabeth Emergency Medical Services School Administrators and the Princi- nick* (NJCU); Professional Staff Rep- (EMS) in a union organizing drive and pal and Supervisors Association. While resentative, Jennifer Higgins (MSU); later in AFSCME Local 2254 at the Jer- employed as an elementary school Librarian Representative, Faye Robin- sey City Medical Center (EMS) – prior principal, Arlene served as a president son* (Rowan); Adjunct Faculty Repre- to being hired at Montclair State Uni- and a vice president of her union and sentative, Arlene Schor (Kean). Those versity. served on two negotiating teams. Schor designated with “*” ran unopposed. Jennifer Hig- was elected as a labor candidate to two Bill Sullivan’s election marks his re- gins has been an terms on the Belleville Board of educa- turn as a Council officeholder. Bill first active member of tion and was instrumental in halting became a Council delegate in 1994. He AFT Local 1904 privatization of custodial services in held the position of (MSU) since 2006, that district. As Council’s Adjunct Rep- Council secretary for serving as a mem- resentative, Arlene attends and par- two years (1997-1999) ber of the Profes- ticipates in local unit meetings, attends before becoming the sional Staff Negotiating Team and legislative campus events, assists with Council’s executive as Alternate Delegate to the College recruitment and legislative activities. vice president. As ex- Council. She helped draft contract pro- At the conclusion of the election ecutive vice president, posals for Flex-Time procedure and co- committee report, a unanimously ap- Bill chaired the Coun- drafted the procedures for the Tuition proved motion was made from the cil’s Domestic Partner Benefits Com- Waiver for AFT dependents, spouses floor to appoint outgoing Council VP mittee. At that time, the Council was and Partners in a Civil Union. Jennifer Jon Erickson to a newly created posi- the first labor organization to meet has served as Associate Vice President tion of Assistant Legislative Represen- with lesbian and gay groups to form for Personnel at Local 1904, handling tative. All new officers assume office a coalition to fight for domestic part- all grievance matters for the Local and effective July 1, 2011. ner benefits, which led to the enact- assisting faculty, librarians and pro- ment of domestic partner legislation. fessional staff members with employ- – • – Bill also represented the Council at the ment-related matters. Since May 2010

AFT NJ State Federation Conference (from previous page) Need contract infor- fessor and chair of the Health Sciences program at NJCU. mation or updates on Today, Dr. Rosado draws on her experiences with low-in- important issues that come residents of East Harlem to teach her students about affect you? Visit and not just how to deliver quality health education to at risk bookmark our website populations but to do so with respect and with a sense of at http://cnjscl.org for social justice. this and more. We also have a large list of use- Dr. Rosado has been an active member of Local 1839 and ful links that make it has served as the executive vice president of the Local. In easier for you to find May 2009, she was honored by the National Puerto Rican Council Legislative Representa- other important web- Coalition for working with the Puerto Rican community in tive Sarah Ann Harnick (left) pre- sites. order to bring sustainable solutions to core issues and chal- senting Liliam Rosado (NJCU) lenges in health and education that affect Puerto Rican com- AFT NJSF Humanitarian Award munities. Congratulations Dr. Rosado! – • –

6 COLLEGE VOICE Council Locals Stage “We Are One” Events on Campuses

ouncil Locals at Richard Stock- Psychology) posted his daily ac- ton College, Rowan Universi- tivities in real time — to reinforce Cty, New Jersey City University that while faculty may teach for and Montclair State University hosted a relatively small proportion of a variety of We Are One events during the day, they are busy on service the week of April 4. The We Are One and research duties from dawn to campaign is part of a nation-wide late at night. Throughout the day, multi-union on-campus labor aware- professional staff engaged with ness outreach. students to talk about how inter- Richard Stockton College AFT Lo- connected their academic success cal 2274 staged a day-long teach-in is with the administrative sup- and staffed informational leafleting port they provide to make that success possible. tables. AFT members gave talks on Stockton Faculty & Staff several subjects, including legislative At the Rowan Student Center, issues, bargaining rights, the economic crisis in higher edu- students and staff were encouraged to complete postcards cation and union solidarity. to send to their elected rep- At Montclair State University, Local 1904 members dedi- resentatives asking them to cated April 4th to support increased funding contacting their NJ for higher education. The state legislators to student-centered activities demand that our kicked off with a presenta- health care benefits tion of the movie Norma be negotiated at the Rae with pre- and post- bargaining table movie discussions with rather than legislat- members of the AFT unit. Patrick Hossay at Stockton ed. On April 6th, the Linda Parthemer, the AFT local encouraged office manager and a for- AFT unit members mer labor attorney with arbitration experience, presented a to don a blue AFT brief history of unionism in the United States. Afterwards, Members from Stockton Faculty Band t-shirt and buttons Esther Mummert (Academic Advisor in the College of to show their soli- Communications) and Joy Xin (Professor of Special Educa- darity. Our members engaged in dialog with the university tion) coordinated a poster making activity where students community about how our union and our work “make a dif- designed post- ference everyday” in ensuring student success. ers and signs that were reminiscent On April 3rd, 1968, Dr. Martin of those carried Luther King Jr. traveled to Mem- at social justice phis to support AFSCME sanitation and civil rights workers. That evening, he delivered rallies of the past. his famous “I’ve Been to the Moun- Manuel Pontes, taintop” speech to a packed room Professor of Mar- of supporters. The next day, he was keting and Busi- assassinated. To honor the memory ness Information and work of Dr. King in support- Systems, held a Packed Lecture Hall Teach-in at Ramapo ing both the civil rights and labor lecture on the ben- movements, members of the Rowan efits of collective American Federation of Teachers bargaining. Lastly, Kathleen Pereles (Associate Professor of Local 2373 sponsored a Day of Action on April 6th in the Management and Entrepreneurship) delivered the final pre- Pit at the Chamberlain Student Center, followed by various sentation on the link between the social justice movement th campus actions throughout the week of April 4 . Our Row- and protest music. She showcased music that captured the an brothers and sisters planned some unique activities to protest spirit with music of past generations that struggled encourage student participation in the We Are One activities. for civil rights and labor justice. In addition to the events The day started with an all day “Life in the Day” twit- that took place in the Student Center, there were teach-ins ter feed whereby Dr. Jerry Hough (Biological Sciences and across campus on matters of unionism, education, the labor

April 2011 (Continued on next page) 7 April 2011 New Jersey Published on behalf of the AFT Locals in the New Jersey State Colleges and Universities by the Council of New Jersey State College Locals, AFT/AFL-CIO. Member: AFT Communications Network.

that We Are One! Ramapo rally att endees, who “We Are One events” wore red t-shirts received pro union stickers in (from previous page) a demonstration of solidarity with the college V th community. On April 7 , the week’s activities culminated with a day-long teach-in that was a “packed to the rafters” aff air att ended by union members and students alike. O Council Locals stood tall during the We Are One week, celebrating the labor movement and higher education by calling att ention to AFT’s proud role in fi ghting for collective bargaining rights in pub- lic higher education and rising to the challenges posed by legislators and right-wing extrem- ists who would take away hard won bargaining I Ramapo Students movement and other issues of great social im- port. Rowan University Local 2373 hopes that this is the start of more days of action in the coming C months. Ramapo College’s AFT Local 2274 We Are One activities were a week-long aff air. On Aprilth 4 , Local 2274 commemorated the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, not- ofE Higher ing that he was in Memphis speaking in defense of public workers’ collective bargaining rights. Education The next day the Local presented Fight Back USA!, Ramapo “We Are One” in library Labor a national teach-in on Austerity, Greed and What You Can Do About It – streamed live to a packed house. rights and benefi ts. It’s a great thing to be able April 6th was Ramapo Solidarity Day where facul- to involve students in union-related activities to ty, staff , librarians and students proudly showed talk about labor history — the struggles and hard-won vic- tories — and engage students in discussions about the new onslaught against unions and collective bargaining. The April 4th We Are One events provided students with an understanding of how the collective power of organized labor is as vital and necessary today as it was in previous generations. “We Are One” at MSU – • –

NOT A MEMBER YET? BECOME INVOLVED!!! Make your voice heard in the workplace by joining the union today. Occupational Liability Insurance comes with membership! Visit your local offi ce for a membership card or visit the council’s website (www.cnjscl.org) for membership information.