Month: February 2017
AFT New Jersey President Donna M. Chiera Calls for Increase In School Funding
CONTACT: Nat Bender, nbender [@] aftnj.org, 908-377-0393
EDISON… “Governor Christie has again claimed that he has increased education funding over the past several years of his administration. In reality most of our state’s districts and institutions at best will receive the same funding level this year as they saw last year.
Budgets are statements that reflect investments in what we value.…
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College Council Voice: Do Our Presidents Value Our Contributions?
President’s Report & State of Negotiations: Do Our College Presidents Value Our Contributions to Quality Education? More >>
William Paterson Members Mobilize More >>
Ramapo Local Pushes Back More >>
Demanding Equity for Adjunct Faculty More >>
Council Legal Victories More >>
Kean University Professional Staff Under Siege More >>
Are You a Full Member? More >>…
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Ruling against Kean could have widespread implications
By Elana Knopp
UNION COUNTY, NJ — An appellate court has ruled that Kean University failed to provide adequate notice to a professor before deciding not to renew her contract at a public meeting.
[…]American Federation of Teachers President Donna Chiera said in a statement released to LocalSource on Feb. 15, that the court’s ruling was a wake-up call.…
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Why Rutgers’ president is speaking out: In a word, Trump
Jonathan Lai, Staff Writer
You don’t become the president of one of the nation’s largest universities without mastering the diplomatic art of silence.
But when the president of the United States restricts immigration or signals he may roll back protections for students brought into this country illegally as children, the calculus changes.
“The times are different,” Robert L.…
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Welcome New Staff Representative: Richard Gomes
After a decade of organizing at Rutgers, bargaining contracts on behalf of his colleagues and collaborating on grievances, Richard Gomes started as a staff representative for AFT New Jersey last week.
Gomes started teaching at Rutgers in 2006, joined the union and became active with the local’s executive board in 2007. He has served in leadership positions of both the Rutgers AAUP-AFT’s Non-Tenure Track and Part-Time Lecturer (adjunct) groups and as a Vice President of AFTNJ Higher Education.…
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Report says NJ teachers make less than other workers
Diane D’Amico, Staff Writer
Public school teachers in New Jersey make less money than other full-time employees, according to a report released this week by the Economic Policy Institute.
But the disparity is at least partly due to the fact teachers overall work fewer weeks per year than other professions.
Teachers also get more of their total compensation as benefits than private-sector workers, although the gap is closing.…
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The new civics course in US schools: How to spot fake news
Carolyn Thompson, Associated Press
WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — Teachers from elementary school through college are telling students how to distinguish between factual and fictional news — and why they should care that there’s a difference.
As Facebook works with The Associated Press, FactCheck.org and other organizations to curb the spread of fake and misleading news on its influential network, teachers say classroom instruction can play a role in deflating the kind of “Pope endorses Trump ” headlines that muddied the waters during the 2016 presidential campaign.…
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N.J. university let go of professor without enough warning, court rules
By Kelly Heyboer, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
UNION — Kean University should have given a professor more notice before its board voted to not renew her contract at a public meeting, a state appellate court ruled this week in a case that could change how the school does business.
[…]Kean Federation of Teachers, the school’s faculty union, and union president James Castiglione joined Hascup in filing the lawsuit against the university.…
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Members: Register for March 31 & April 1 Legislative Conference
As of Tuesday, March 28, registration is now full.
For driving directions, use address: Bally’s Atlantic City, 1900 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
| Agenda | Guest Registration |
What are the most important political issues impacting your career and working conditions?
While it is easy to identify many measures we oppose, we also need to develop and articulate positive policy recommendations.…
‘No’ to Andrew Puzder for Labor Secretary
Donald Trump’s nominee for Labor Secretary—fast-food CEO Andrew Puzder—is out of touch with the needs of working people.
Despite having built his business and fortune on the backs of hard working Americans, he opposes meaningful increases to the minimum wage and overtime pay. The millionaire lines his own pockets while underpaying the very people who work at his Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.…
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AFT Opposes Trump Executive Orders
In his first week in office, President Trump began implementing his campaign promise to target refugees and immigrants.
On Friday, Jan. 27, Trump signed an executive order that effectively prohibits the entry into the United States of Muslim citizens of seven countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The order affects approximately 25,000 people holding student and work visas, and as many as 500,000 people who are permanent legal residents of the United States.…
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