American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, AFL-CIO

Month: March 2017

Elizabeth Lynch, North Bergen Federation of Teachers
AFTNJ NewsMediaPre-K to 12 NewsPress Clips
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No one person made teacher contract happen in North Bergen

North Bergen teachers take pride in working together for the good of our students and in standing up for each other. We hope to convey that spirit of cooperation to our students, knowing that collaboration with their peers will play a part in their future success whether in higher education or at work.

That is one reason I was very surprised and dismayed to read Larry Wainstein’s letter on Saturday, March 11th, taking credit for being the voice of the teachers of North Bergen and for helping to bring the contract negotiations to an end.…

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William Paterson contract rally
AFTNJ NewsCollege Council ContractHigher Ed NewsIn ActionPhotos
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William Paterson AFT On the March for a Fair Contract

Quality Faculty Deserve a Quality Contract

Photos: Milton Eng

More than 150 full-time and adjunct faculty, professional staff and students demonstrated at William Paterson University calling for a fair deal for workers in state contract negotiations and protesting the lack of shared governance and transparency at the university. AFT members have been working without a state contract since July 1, 2015.

The March 2 rally helped raise awareness on campus that faculty, librarians and professional staff at NJ public colleges and universities have suffered economically for years due to health insurance costs exceeding minimal non-competitive salary increases.…

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MediaPre-K to 12 NewsPress Clips
AFTNJ

North Bergen voters to decide on $52 school tax hike

By Steve Strunsky, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

NORTH BERGEN — When North Bergen voters head to the polls in school elections next month, they’ll be asked to approve a proposed $48.8 million district-wide budget that would increase the school portion of their property tax bills by $52 for the average homeowner, district officials said.

[…]

Salaries for about 720 faculty and administrators will go up under a 3-year teacher contract recently agreed upon by the district and the local bargaining unit of the American Federation of Teachers union.…

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princeton graduate union 031517
AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsLabor NewsNews
AFTNJ

Graduate students receive update on unionization

By Rose Gilbert

On Monday night, four panelists from NYU and Rutgers shared their experience with higher education unions and encouraged University graduate students to unionize.

Last October, graduate students voted to affiliate their union, Princeton Graduate Students United (PGSU), with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Now, PGSU organizers are holding meetings and events to gather feedback on the union’s potential future.…

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supreme court judge
College Council ContractNews
AFTNJ

N.J. Supreme Court enters fray over pay hikes for public workers

By Samantha Marcus, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

TRENTON — Public employee unions and government officials clashed Monday in a case before the state Supreme Court that could determine whether workers across New Jersey will get pay raises.

The state’s highest court heard oral arguments over the whether “step” increases — raises in pay when workers reach annual milestones in years of service — should be granted after a contract has expired.…

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Rutgers sports
Higher Ed NewsMediaNewsPress ClipsReclaim Rutgers
AFTNJ

Chasing Big Sports Goals, Rutgers Stumbles Into a Vat of Red Ink

By MICHAEL POWELL, NY Times

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Ah, how grandness beckoned. When Rutgers officials announced in 2012 that their university would join the Big Ten, one of the nation’s premier athletic conferences, the sun itself seemed to burn brighter.

Teams from Rutgers, New Jersey’s state university, would battle mighty Ohio State and Michigan. High school seniors would forward applications by the truckload.…

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north bergen teacher protest
AFTNJ NewsMediaNewsPre-K to 12 NewsPress releases
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Press: North Bergen Teachers Ratify New Contract

CONTACT: Nat Bender, 908-377-0393, nbender [@] aftnj.org

Teachers and community called on Board for fair three-year deal

After hundreds of North Bergen teachers marched on the last Board of Education meeting, calling for a fair contract and engaging community support, negotiations opened back up leading to an agreement teachers ratified Monday.

On overwhelming majority of teachers approved raises of 2.9, 3.0 and 3.1 percent raises in the years starting from September 1, 2016 ending August 31, 2019.…

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John Abeigon, Newark Teachers Union
AFTNJ NewsMediaNewark Teachers UnionNewsPre-K to 12 NewsPress releases
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AFT Leaders Challenge Expansions of Charter Chains

Contact: Nat Bender, nbender [@] aftnj.org, 908-377-0393

Newark Teachers Union President John M. Abeigon said, “It is ironic that the state is shutting down smaller community charter schools while encouraging larger charter chains to expand without regard for the community public schools that these entities will likely be displacing. Is this chain approach to education a ‘one-size fits all approach’?…

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higher education
AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsTake Action
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Sign and Share for Higher Education Funding

Governor Christie again demonstrated how his words don’t reflect his values. In yesterday’s budget speech, he cited the importance of our institutions of higher learning, highlighting the expansion of many of our campuses. While new academic buildings are needed to stem the tide of students leaving the state, New Jersey’s colleges and universities need funding for people to teach in those buildings and to support student services.…

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