Kean U. Faculty Votes No Confidence in Board

May 16, 2012

Faculty members and librarians at Kean University voted no confidence in the university’s Board of Trustees this week, with 94 percent of responding faculty members saying they had lost faith in the board. Professors have clashed with the university’s president, Dawood Farahi, for several years. Tensions came to a head early this year when the faculty accused Farahi of including false information on his résumé. After an investigation in which lawyers hired by the board found that Farahi had falsified some of the statements on earlier résumés, the board voted seven to four to keep Farahi in place, a decision that further angered faculty members. Professors voted no confidence in Farahi in 2010.

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Perth Amboy superintendent battle might head to court

May 10, 2012

Written by Suzanne Russell

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Meanwhile, the union representing teachers and other staff members considered taking a no-confidence vote regarding the superintendent, who was brought into the district before the start of the school year to lead reform in the special-needs district of about 10,000 students. But she has met opposition from some board members and staff.

An emergency meeting of the union leadership was called on Wednesday to consider all options after Caffrey was reinstated as superintendent, said Donna Chiera, president of Perth Amboy Federation/AFT.

Chiera said the first question that was asked was whether the leadership had confidence in the superintendent.

“The majority said they did not have confidence in the superintendent,” Chiera said, adding that although some advocated for a no-confidence vote, the leadership instead decided to develop a statement of what they stand for and what the district’s leader needs to do, and if they can’t do what’s needed, the leader should step aside. The statement is expected to be completed by early next week. Chiera said it was after the leadership had completed its business that Board of Education President Samuel Lebreault and Vice President Kenneth Puccio met with leaders to answer questions. She said attorneys for the board and union authorized Lebreault and Puccio’s 25-minute visit.

Although Caffrey had heard there were discussions on new tactics to get rid of her, Chiera disputes that.

“At no point did anyone from the board approach the union to ask for a no-confidence vote,” Chiera said. “I don’t think we’re looking to hang her in effigy.”

Nonetheless, Chiera questions whether Caffrey should continue as superintendent. She said she might need to step aside so the district can move forward.

“I don’t know if she can lead us. If she can’t lead us and we look at what is best for the district, I don’t know if she should be there. I don’t believe the staff has the faith and confidence to follow her to make the changes in the district that need to be made,” Chiera said. “I think the marriage is over.”

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Ousted Perth Amboy school superintendent Caffrey returns, but battle brews

May 10, 2012

Written by Suzanne Russell

Perth Amboy Superintendent of Schools Janine Walker Caffrey on Wednesday, her first day back to work following nine school days on paid administrative leave. / SUZANNE RUSSELL/STAFF PHOTO

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Following Caffrey’s return, building administrators have told security personnel that board members are not permitted to enter school buildings without the superintendent’s written consent, according to Donna Chiera, president of Perth Amboy Federation/AFT, which represents teachers and other district employees.

District teachers also have opposed some of Caffrey’s reform methods, and some applauded when the board placed Caffrey on leave.

Chiera said the principal, vice principal and three staff members placed on leave last week in connection with an alleged incident at the Dr. Herbert N. Richardson 21st Century Elementary School remain on leave with charges pending and a board investigation into the matter yet to begin.

Chiera said it is a “double standard” that Caffrey is able to return to work while she is facing an investigation into the board’s charges, but the other district personnel are barred from returning.

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College of New Jersey professors rally to protest contract dispute

April 27, 2012

By David Karas/The Times

College of New Jersey professors protest during 'Day of Action' over contract dispute

Hundreds of professors and professional staffers participated in a Day of Action on the TCNJ campus Thursday to rally support for their ongoing contract negotiations with the state. AFT members have been without a contract for a year now.

EWING — With shouts of solidarity and calls for fairness, several hundred professors and professional staffers at The College of New Jersey wore their blue union shirts and assembled for a rally yesterday to rouse support for stalled contract negotiations.

Members of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 2364 and representatives from the Council of New Jersey State College Locals participated in the rally on the steps of Green Hall, home to the college’s administration.

Ralph Edelbach, president of the AFT at TCNJ, said the purpose of the rally was to show the campus administration that the union is organized and ready to push back against what he called the unfair demands of the state.

“The kind of contract we get makes a difference in the quality of education we can deliver,” he said.

The governor’s office declined to respond to requests for comment.

The rally at TCNJ followed similar demonstrations at campuses of other schools that are members of the Council of New Jersey State College Locals.

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Educators, professionals rally at NJCU, seeking new labor contract and tuition rollbacks as part of statewide action

April 26, 2012

By Celeste Little/The Jersey Journal

Graduate student Fatima Benchouk joins the rally by the American Federation of Teachers Local 1839, students, teachers and staff at New Jersey City University in Jersey City on Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal

Several dozen educators and other professionals rallied yesterday at New Jersey City University, calling for a new labor contract and rollbacks in tuition costs.

Rallies are being held at college campuses around the state this week, union officials said.

The protests serve as a rallying cry for increased state funding for higher education and fair labor negotiations on campuses, AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech said.

Steve Young, an official with the American Federation of Teachers, said yesterday at NJCU that professors have been working with an “amended version” of a contract that expired in June.

The current arrangement excludes sabbaticals, career development, mandatory raises, and advancement opportunity for new teachers, he said.

“The lack of funding affects students’ tuition ultimately, and if we don’t get the contract or at least what we had in the past, teachers won’t want to teach in New Jersey,” said Young.

New Jersey ranks 47th in the nation for higher education funding, according to Young.

Over the past three years tuition at NJCU has risen $1,033, union workers said.

Lois Weiner, a professor at the college, said she teaches mostly working-class individuals who can’t afford the tuition hikes.

“My students are now working 40 hours a week to pay tuition and have to be full-time students to get financial aid,” Weiner said. “New Jersey government is giving students the shaft.”

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Perth Amboy school board puts superintendent on paid leave

April 26, 2012

By Tom Haydon/The Star-Ledger

Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-LedgerPerth Amboy superintendent Janine Caffrey poses earlier this month.

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The vote was met with a roar of cheers and applause from the audience. Of about 400 people at meeting, about half were district employees, said Donna Chiera, president of the local teachers union.

Chiera said Caffrey had lost the “trust and confidence” of the staff.

“The issue has always been that decisions have been made in what is to be done to the staff, and not with the staff,” Chiera said.

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Richard Stockton College faculty and staff demonstrate for college funding, a contract

April 26, 2012

By DIANE D’AMICO Education Writer

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — The academic year at Richard Stockton College is ending, but faculty and staff at the college held a demonstration on campus Wednesday to raise awareness of low college funding and that they worked the entire year without a new contract.

Demonstrations were planned at eight public colleges. Union officials said the rising cost of college is not because of faculty salaries and benefits but because the state has under-funded the colleges for years.

Gov. Chris Christie had proposed increasing aid to higher education by almost 6 percent to $1.4 billion for 2012-13, but that comes after years of cuts. The funds will largely be used to meet the state’s obligation for employee benefits. The unions are concerned that the state wants to break up the statewide faculty unions, which would reduce their bargaining power.

Donna Chiera, president of the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, which represents the faculty, said in a statement that true support for higher education means investing in the colleges and providing good, competitive working conditions for faculty and staff.

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Rowan University faculty members march on campus to protest stalled contract settlement

April 26, 2012

By Jessica Driscoll/ Gloucester County Times

GLASSBORO — Beating drums, carrying symbolic coffins and chanting “We want a contract,” members of Rowan University’s American Federation of Teachers marched through campus Wednesday to protest the fact that they’ve been working without a contract since June 30.

Dan Murphy, assistant director of University Publications, marches with teachers and other professional staff Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Members of Rowan University's American Federation of Teachers marched through campus to protest the fact that they've been working without a contract since June 30. Rowan faculty joined seven other union-sponsored rallies being held at college campuses throughout the state. (Staff Photo by Lori M. Nichols/Gloucester County Times)

Rowan faculty joined seven other union-sponsored rallies being held at college campuses throughout the state. Wednesday’s rallies included Rowan, Ramapo, Stockton, William Paterson, Montclair State, Kean and New Jersey City University, with The College of New Jersey planning to hold its rally Thursday.

“We’re drawing a line in the sand, asking the faculty to let the president know they’re disenchanted with the lack of any new progress in the contracts,” said Nicholas Yovnello, president of the Council of New Jersey State College Locals AFT/AFL-CIO. “We’re also protesting regressive clauses. The state wants to eliminate, in our contracts, our ability to have an observer on the budget committee. This takes away transparency and accountability. Right now, New Jersey higher education is in chaos, and the lack of a contract is one of the symptoms.”

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Audio: Dr. Susanna Tardi on Contract Talks

April 26, 2012

http://archive.wbai.org/files/mp3/wbai_120425_180207wbainews.mp3

Dr. Susanna Tardi’s interview starts just before the 13 minute mark and continues until 19 minutes.

New Jersey state college faculties protest pay, benefit proposals

April 26, 2012

By James Osborne, Inquirer Staff Writer

Faculty from across New Jersey’s state college campuses protested Wednesday as tensions with Gov. Christie continue to grow over proposals to freeze professors’ pay and cut benefits.

Carrying a symbolic coffin — “the death of education” — members of Rowan University‚ American Federation of Teachers march on campus April 25, 2012 in protest of what they say are delayed contract negotiations. Faculty have been working without a contract since June 30. (TOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer)

Christie has called for four-year salary freezes and an end to perks such as guaranteed sabbaticals, a staple of academic life, at the state’s nine nonresearch universities, which do not include Rutgers or the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, according to faculty union officials who have been involved in contract talks.

“We’ve been negotiating for a little over a year, and we’ve made very little progress,” said Steve Young, executive president of the Council of New Jersey State College Locals, which represents more than 8,700 faculty and staff. “The cuts they’re proposing are unprecedented.”

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