We have had a difficult few years. We are all teaching and working more with less support for our research, for our programs, and for our students. We deserve better. Our leadership team will listen to members and plan around our goals so that we can negotiate with power instead of making reactionary decisions based on fear.
Our first priority is to revitalize Union culture. Meetings must be accessible for all members, and discussion and questions encouraged so that every voice and idea is valued. We will restore the local negotiations committee to increase collaboration and transparency. Our Union will work with other bodies on campus such as the Faculty Senate to ensure concerted action for the betterment of all of us.
The current local negotiation strategy is not working for us. Our first act will be to conduct a full independent analysis of five years of University spending and provide a cogent explanation to members at an open meeting. With that information, and by listening to members’ needs, we will create a strong negotiation strategy to bring back the release time and support we need to have full careers at William Paterson.
Our University is not alone in facing austerity and corporatization. Union meetings must be a place where we discuss how these forces impact us and find solutions to combat them. We must build solidarity across campus, the state, and the nation. Any success we see against the corporatization of higher education is the direct result of the growing higher education labor movement. We need to be an active part of this historic moment.
We must make sure our Union addresses the needs of all members. Professional staff are struggling with increased workloads and pressure from KPIs and they need a stronger voice in our Union. We will make meetings accessible for staff and ensure that we are addressing issues of workplace flexibility, work-from-home policies, and understaffing. And as our University relies increasingly on contingent labor, we must do more to reach NTTPs and adjuncts and encourage Union involvement. We will increase adjunct membership and outreach to prepare for future contract negotiations where we can achieve actual pay parity.
Our team brings new skills and extensive experience in leadership, academic policy, activism, local negotiations, RTP development, performance review, university budgeting, political strategy, NJ state contract negotiations, NJ higher education strategy, University Senate, public relations, and non-profit management. Each of us has a deep respect for members, a commitment to democracy and transparency, and a demonstrated commitment to social justice and inclusion. We will work with tenacity for all of us.
You have a choice. We can continue with the current plans, always settling for less than we deserve. Or we can breathe new life into our Union and work together to create solutions that build our power and bring new success. www.BuildOurPower.org
Solidarity Caucus 