Rutgers unions advance collaborative legal strategy in response to pay freeze
NEW BRUNSWICK… The state Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) today approved a jointly submitted order to show cause for unions representing 10,000 Rutgers workers, forcing university management to defend its unilateral pay freeze. The unions are arguing for expedited arbitration, which would offer a speedy resolution for the breach of contract claim. The challenge arises from university management’s announcement that it would refuse to pay contracted raises. These raises were originally due in 2009, but the unions agreed to defer until this year in the same pattern as state worker deals.