2012 June | American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, AFL-CIO

Reorganization a first step towards prioritizing student success and medical care

June 29, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 28, 2012

MEDIA CONTACT:
Nat Bender, Communications Director
American Federation of Teachers NJ
(908) 377-0393. nbender@aftnj.org

Group representing doctors, nurses, faculty and all levels of staff calls for increased financial support for higher education to accompany implementation

TRENTON, N.J.—Representatives of the doctors, nurses, professors and all levels of higher education workers publically supported the amended version of legislation to merge UMDNJ into Rutgers when outstanding governance issues in South Jersey were resolved in a way that preserves the independence and integrity of Rutgers University and its Camden and Newark campuses, as well as Rowan University.

This legislation should be viewed as a first step towards strengthening higher education in New Jersey, said American Federation of Teachers New Jersey (AFTNJ) Political Director Seth Anderson-Oberman. “The successful implementation of this legislation is still dependent on adequate state support for higher education and critical healthcare facilities for New Jersey residents. The projected increase in research revenues identified by proponents of this legislation still requires structural support for higher education as well as bonding capacity to increase facilities.”

Download full release: Reorganization a first step towards prioritizing student success and medical care

AFTNJ Wisconsin Report Back

June 27, 2012

AFTNJ Research Analyst Tom Peretti recently returned from the community and labor campaign to recall Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. The recall was prompted by Gov. Walker’s decision to effectively repeal collective bargaining rights for public employees, only allowing their unions to negotiate for base wages. This sparked a massive response from the citizens of Wisconsin, the birthplace of public sector collective bargaining, who showed up by the tens of thousands at the state capitol in Madison to protest the new law. Organizers collected nearly one million signatures from Wisconsin voters to trigger a recall election in June.

I arrived in Milwaukee three weeks before the election. As soon as I landed I was sent to knock on the doors of union members and urge them to support the Democratic ticket of gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett (the current Mayor of Milwaukee) and his running mate, the president of the statewide firefighters’ union, Mahlon Mitchell. Though many local unions endorsed Mayor Barrett’s opponent in the Democratic primary, staff and members from across the country came out to work on the election. I spent two weeks knocking on doors across all parts of Milwaukee, from urban working-class neighborhoods to the suburbs. I had many great conversations with union members and family members who viewed the threat of the Governor’s agenda as an attack on all working families. I was pleased to see that many private sector union members were standing in solidarity with their public sector brothers and sisters to support the recall.

Peretti (right) heads out to talk to union voters in Wisconsin

During the final week before the election, I helped to set up a new office in the city of Waukesha, about twenty minutes outside of Milwaukee. Waukesha is a more rural, conservative area than Milwaukee, so reliably Republican that Governor Walker had his election night party there. I canvassed some of the towns in Waukesha County for the final week and helped run the office, usually distributing walk packs to union volunteers and tallying up the day’s responses. I was pleased to see that several student volunteers from Rutgers and staff from Rutgers AAUP-AFT came to Wisconsin to help the recall effort in the last few days. We returned to Milwaukee for Election Day on June 5 to knock on as many doors as possible and remind members to get out to vote. Unfortunately, Governor Walker had a major financial advantage throughout the election and despite our efforts on the ground, was able to retain his office.

Peretti analyzes voter data in Wisconsin recall election

It was a privilege to do this important solidarity work on behalf of AFTNJ leaders and members to strengthen the national labor movement. Though the campaign to recall Governor Walker was unsuccessful, I will use the lessons learned to help advance the AFTNJ political agenda under the leadership of our political director Seth Anderson-Oberman in 2012 and 2013. Many of Governor Walker’s priorities seem to be shared by our Governor Chris Christie and Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, both supporters of Governor Walker’s campaigns. The battles we have seen in Wisconsin may soon come to New Jersey and I was glad to see the labor movement really engage with community allies to form alliances.

Q and A about Tenure Rights and the Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of NJ Act (TEACH)

June 26, 2012

1. How would the TEACH NJ act change the process for new teachers to earn tenure?
If enacted, TEACH would:
• Pair new teachers with an experienced teacher for a “mentorship year” prior to a three-year tenure review, extending the tenure process to four years.
• Require an “effective” or “highly effective” rating for at least two of the three years after the mentorship year to earn tenure.

2. How would teachers be rated?
TEACH would require evaluation rubrics to be developed by the district and approved by the Commissioner of Education to rate teachers either “highly effective,” “effective,” “partially effective,” or “ineffective” each year. At the local level, leaders and members can work with the district in shaping these evaluation rubrics.

3. What if a teacher gets a poor evaluation?
When a teacher is rated “ineffective” or “partially effective,” a corrective action plan must be developed to support the teacher and address documented deficiencies. The teacher would collaborate with an experienced teacher acting in a supervisory capacity to develop the plan.

Q and A about Tenure Rights and TEACH NJ

Englewood charter teachers and staff ratify first contract

June 26, 2012

Left to Right: Arlene Stephens, Michael Owens, Mary Carpenter, Catherine Philley, Hazel Oglesby, Janine Ellis, Romaine Hassanah, Dana Clark.

Teachers at Englewood on the Palisades Charter School ratified their first contract Thursday, June 21, negotiating changes in the school’s schedule they believe will benefit students. The negotiating team of the New Jersey Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff held that merely adding days to the school year and hours to the school day did not prove to be beneficial to the students. Instead, their newly ratified agreement stresses the importance of an effective school model focused on classroom study and recreation with mentoring and tutoring to foster well-rounded students.

Before organizing their new union in October 2010, Mary Carpenter, a fifth grade teacher from Tenafly, NJ, explained that the school day had been extended, but music, Spanish, art and computer programs were shortened. “As educators we should be educating the total child and not only concentrating on classes that just boost test scores,” said Carpenter.

Now the educators have a new contract and improved relationship with a newly-elected board that recognizes their dedication to the school and students, according to first‐grade teacher Catherine Philley, of Teaneck, NJ. “The resolve this team demonstrated the past year-and-a-half was fundamental to the achievement of this agreement,” said Philley. The initial one-year agreement has raised morale and Philley expressed confidence in negotiating a longer successor contract.

Philley and colleague Romaine Hassanah expressed gratitude for AFTNJ staff representative Yolanda Brewer who worked with the team and the board to reach agreement.

“With patience and perseverance we are able to work through issues,” said Hassanah. “We can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you Yolanda and AFT.”

Press release: State Teachers Federation Commends ‘Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey Act,’ Calls for Improvement in Appeals Process Language

June 25, 2012

Clarification of Scope of Appeal Process Would Make Legislation Stronger

EDISON, N.J.—The American Federation of Teachers New Jersey (AFTNJ) supports S. 1455, the Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey Act, AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera said today. “Changes of this magnitude are never easy. We applaud the authors of the bill, particularly Sen. Teresa Ruiz, for working with a broad range of individuals and organizations, including AFTNJ, that were committed to ensuring that this legislation remained focused on improving teaching and learning in our schools.”

Recently retired from a career of more than 30 years in the classroom, Chiera had in-depth, ongoing discussions with the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ruiz, that focused on ensuring teachers had a voice in advocating for high professional standards and the supports needed to meet those standards. “Provisions in this legislation allow for access to professional development and mentorship so that ineffective teachers can become effective teachers, and effective teachers can become master teachers—making it possible for all our students to be taught by a master teacher,” said Chiera.

State Teachers Federation Commends ‘Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey Act,’ Calls for Improvement in Appeals Process Language

Proponents hustle to move N.J. university merger bill

June 25, 2012

By Angela Delli Santi, Associated Press.

TRENTON — Proponents of an ambitious plan to restructure higher education in New Jersey are scrambling to get the measure through both houses of the Legislature and to the governor’s desk by week’s end.

The bill creates a quasi-merger between Rowan University and Rutgers’ Camden campus, and dissolves the University of Medicine and Dentistry, transferring most of it to Rutgers.

The plan is supported by Gov. Chris Christie and South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross III. But it is a work in progress, with unanswered questions about how much it will cost.

The Assembly Budget Committee is set to hear the bill Monday. Two Senate committees have advanced it, though several of the lawmakers who voted yes acknowledged lingering concerns. It is likely to face final approval in both houses on Thursday — perhaps skipping a hearing in the Assembly Higher Education Committee — before advancing to Christie’s desk in time to meet the Republican governor’s self-imposed deadline of Saturday.

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Fights loom for Christie, N.J. Dems

June 25, 2012

By Matt Katz, Inquirer Trenton Bureau.

TRENTON – On a day so busy that the Statehouse cafeteria stayed open an extra three hours for hungry lobbyists who were monitoring dozens of bills, Democrats scampered in and out of meetings to try to put together a $31.7 billion budget to send to Gov. Christie.

Turns out, they also needed to put out a fire that began Thursday and lasted well into Friday afternoon.

Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D., Union) – who was ousted last year from the Assembly’s No. 2 post by Camden County Democrat Louis Greenwald – corralled a group of nine maverick Democrats.

Quickly dubbed the Cryan Nine, the group threatened to vote against the Democratic budget, potentially derailing it. Their conditions: Postpone a separate vote to reshuffle the state’s universities – a plan pushed and prioritized by Christie and South Jersey Democrats, including Greenwald. Otherwise, they would block the budget.

Meanwhile, throughout Thursday – as though he were already down the Shore for the summer – the Republican governor took to Twitter to rank his top 10 Bruce Springsteen songs.

The dichotomy illustrated Christie’s role in Statehouse politics and policy: He sets the conversation and dictates the agenda – but is more than willing to stay out of the fray and let Democrats fight among themselves.

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Richardson School employee placed on administrative leave for allegedly selling alcohol from his vehicle

June 24, 2012

Donna Chiera, president of Perth Amboy Federation/AFT, which represents teachers and other district employees, said by law Muniz was placed on administrative leave by the schools superintendent. She said this occurred about a week ago.

“It is our understanding he was placed on administrative leave because it is no longer an issue of school discipline but a legal issue. We do not have a role in legal issues, only employment,’’ said Chiera, who expected Muniz to remain on leave until the legal process is resolved.

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For Duquesne Professors, a Union Fight That Transcends Religion

June 24, 2012

By Mark Oppenheimer.

“Union busting is a mortal sin,” the Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice said in a 2010 statement on the indispensable role of unions. And while the church hierarchy has never quite put it that way, workers’ right to unionize is an issue on which church teachings are pretty clear.

In 1891, Pope Leo XIII wrote that the proliferation of unions was “greatly to be desired.” In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI wrote that unions “have always been encouraged and supported by the church.” The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops was more forthright in a 1986 pastoral letter: “No one may deny the right to organize without attacking human dignity itself.”

But that does not seem to be quite the position of administrators at Duquesne University, a Catholic institution in Pittsburgh. Adjunct professors are trying to organize a union there, and Duquesne is arguing that its affiliation with the Spiritans, a Roman Catholic order, affords it a special exemption from the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board. It’s a conflict between church and state, the school’s lawyer argues, to allow workers to file for a union election.

Catholic moral theologians say Catholics have a special duty to recognize unions — and Catholic administrators say their university has a special right not to.

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Try again on flawed Rutgers plan

June 24, 2012

By Star-Ledger Editorial Board.

The state Senate plans to vote tomorrow on its schizophrenic reconstruction of Rutgers University. It’s a wobbly train moving way too fast. It’s time, finally, to slam on the brakes.

The core of this plan makes great sense. Allowing Rutgers to absorb the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey strengthens the state university. And, given UMDNJ’s troubled past, handing management to Rutgers is a rational move. Those changes could be a major win for the state, provided that concerns about cost can be answered authoritatively.

But the South Jersey part — the shotgun wedding of Rutgers-Camden and Rowan University — is a poison pill. The Frankenstein aspect of this — amputating Rutgers’ Camden campus and reattaching it to Rowan — threatens serious damage.

Another concern is University Hospital in Newark. It would be left an orphan under this plan, severed from UMDNJ. Rock-hard assurances must be in place that this hospital will not wither, that it will continue to carry its heroic load of care for patients without insurance.

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