American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, AFL-CIO

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Biden taps Ingram for educational equity commission

AFTNJ

President Joe Biden on April 21 revealed his intent to appoint AFT Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick C. Ingram to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans.

The commission’s objectives include promoting career pathways for Black students via internships and other work-based learning initiatives, along with increasing public awareness of the educational disparities Black Americans face and providing solutions to these problems.…

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Murphy signs bill expanding access to UI for workers during labor disputes

AFTNJ

Gov. Phil Murphy on April 24 signed A4772/S3215, which addresses some loopholes that have affected striking workers and others in labor disputes from receiving access to unemployment insurance benefits.

Taking effect immediately and applying to all UI benefit claims filed on or after Jan. 1, 2022, A4772/S3215 will:

• Permit UI benefits to be distributed to workers during an employer lockout even if a strike did not immediately precede the lockout

• Decrease the timeframe from 30 days to 14 days following a strike that UI benefits are disqualified, while allowing for benefits to be paid immediately regardless of the timeframe if replacement workers are hired on either a permanent or temporary basis

• Clarify that there is no disqualification if an issue in the labor dispute is the failure of the employer to comply with an agreement between the parties

“Workers and their families often struggle financially when they go on strike to protest injustice in the workplace,” said Charlie Wowkanech, president of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO.…

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COVID-19 News Pre-K to 12 News 

Survey: Student misbehavior has climbed while morale has dropped

AFTNJ

According to a recent EdWeek Research Center survey, 70 percent of educators said there is more student misbehavior in their classes, schools and districts now than there was in fall 2019.

In December 2021, when the research center previously asked educators about it, “66 percent of them said their students were misbehaving a little more or a lot more compared with fall of 2019,” writes Education Week’s Arianna Prothero.…

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Higher Ed News Labor News News NJIT Rutgers University 

With labor unrest at NJIT, Chiera talks Rutgers strike’s influence, need for higher ed commissioner

AFTNJ

Similar to the faculty unions at Rutgers University, the adjunct professors, graduate students and postdoctoral students at New Jersey Institute of Technology have been working about nine months under an expired contract.

But unlike those Rutgers unions, NJIT instructors don’t appear to be close to anything resembling a framework for a new contract.

“We’ve been trying to negotiate with [the administration], in good faith, and we put out our proposals last October,” NJIT adjunct Scott Kent told NJ Spotlight News in a segment that aired April 19.…

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AAUP AFTNJ News Higher Ed News Labor News News Rutgers University 

Rutgers faculty strike suspended; contract framework has ‘profound victories’

AFTNJ

Rutgers AAUP-AFT, Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union and AAUP-BHSNJ members have suspended their strike, which began April 10 and affected five days of classes across all Rutgers University campuses.

They were due to resume working April 17, days after their respective union leaders and Rutgers management agreed to a framework for new contracts.

An April 15 message from the three unions noted the securing of “profound victories” in the framework, among them raises for adjuncts, grad workers and postdocs as well as greater faculty control over teaching conditions.…

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AAUP AFTNJ News Higher Ed News News Rutgers University 

Historic strike by Rutgers faculty unions shakes up university, stirs legislators

AFTNJ

On April 10, after working nearly 290 days without a contract, three Rutgers University faculty unions went on strike, marking the first teaching walkout in school history.

Union members and supporters participated in rallies and picket lines at the three main Rutgers campuses through April 12 as union leaders negotiated each day with the RU administration in Trenton.…

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Higher Ed News News 

U.S. DOE sets public hearings on higher education rulemaking

AFTNJ

On April 11-13, the U.S. Department of Education will hold virtual public hearings seeking stakeholder feedback on potential issues for future higher education rulemaking sessions.

“The Department’s primary responsibility is to serve students and help them succeed,” said U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel A. Cardona in a U.S. DOE press release. “That means we must continue to take a look at a range of regulations to ensure that colleges and programs serve our students well and that Department processes work in their best interest.”…

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AFTNJ News Higher Ed News News Rutgers University 

Murphy talks College Promise, FY24 higher ed investments at Newark roundtable

AFTNJ

Gov. Phil Murphy on April 5 visited Rutgers University’s Newark campus for a roundtable discussion about his New Jersey College Promise initiative and to highlight higher education investments in his fiscal year 2024 budget.

“One of our top priorities from day one of our administration, which is now in its sixth year, has been making a college education more affordable and more accessible to every student who’s willing to roll up their sleeves and work hard,” Murphy said from the Paul Robeson Campus Center.…

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