By Jessica Driscoll/ Gloucester County Times
GLASSBORO — Beating drums, carrying symbolic coffins and chanting “We want a contract,” members of Rowan University’s American Federation of Teachers marched through campus Wednesday to protest the fact that they’ve been working without a contract since June 30.
Rowan faculty joined seven other union-sponsored rallies being held at college campuses throughout the state. Wednesday’s rallies included Rowan, Ramapo, Stockton, William Paterson, Montclair State, Kean and New Jersey City University, with The College of New Jersey planning to hold its rally Thursday.
“We’re drawing a line in the sand, asking the faculty to let the president know they’re disenchanted with the lack of any new progress in the contracts,” said Nicholas Yovnello, president of the Council of New Jersey State College Locals AFT/AFL-CIO. “We’re also protesting regressive clauses. The state wants to eliminate, in our contracts, our ability to have an observer on the budget committee. This takes away transparency and accountability. Right now, New Jersey higher education is in chaos, and the lack of a contract is one of the symptoms.”
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