Catherine Carrera, Staff Writer
About 5,000 unionized adjunct faculty members from nine New Jersey public colleges will see the biggest wage increases they’ve ever received in a new contract reached Friday, after statewide rallies last week that drew hundreds on each campus to call for higher wages.
Meanwhile, another 5,000 unionized full-time faculty members, librarians and staff professionals still in negotiations are preparing for a potential strike by holding strike authorization votes. The votes indicate to union leaders that members would support a call for a strike.
Negotiations began in March for contracts that expired on June 30 for members of the Council of New Jersey State College Locals.
The council represents members at The College of New Jersey, Kean University, Montclair State University, New Jersey City University, Ramapo College, Stockton University, Rowan University, Thomas Edison State University and William Paterson University.
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The proposed four-year contract for adjunct, or part-time, faculty includes a $230 raise per credit, which will bring the rate to $1,705 per credit for faculty with 12 semesters or less at a college, and $1,755 per credit for faculty with 13 semesters or more.
“That’s a big win,” said council President Tim Haresign. “It’s the biggest increase we’ve ever gotten in a four-year contract, and it has a lot to do with our day of action.” He was referring to rallies held last week on each campus by students and union members calling for the state to settle on a “fair contract.”
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