NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — After five days of employee contract negotiations, Rutgers University and union leaders representing professors, graduate student workers, counselors, and others have reached a framework agreement. While this is a major step for both sides, they still have to hash out details for a full tentative agreement.
“This fair and amicable conclusion respects the interests of many different stakeholders, upholds New Jersey’s values and puts an end to a standoff that was disruptive to our educators and students alike,” said Gov. Phil Murphy.
Last week, faculty and staff members from all three of the university’s campuses in New Brunswick, Newark and Camden were on the picket lines for the first “job action” strike of its kind in the more than 250 years of Rutgers history.
Striking workers were pushing for wage increases, job security and funding for grad students. While on strike, classes were suspended or impacted in some way. With the new agreement reached, all classes are expected to resume Monday, April 17.
Union leaders say they’ve achieved “profound victories” in the deal, including pay raises for adjuncts and grad workers, as well as improvements in job security.
However, they do say suspending the strike does not mean it has been canceled.
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Leaders say they will resume their work stoppage if the gains reached in the framework are not secured in the coming days. Meetings regarding the full tentative agreement will begin Monday.
Union President and Associate Professor of English at Rutgers Camden Jim Brown says he feels confident going into the negotiations.
“The posture of management is to drag things out and last a very long time which is why we are here where we are 10 months later.. That can’t work anymore, and I think the governor has made that clear to them.”