Our vision is of a proactive Union that empowers its members to fight for justice, inclusion, diversity, and equity at William Paterson, in our Union, and our communities. We reject the “business model” of unionism that favors consolidated decision-making by leadership, while we watch our jobs cut, workloads increase, and our working conditions deteriorate. In the face of austerity, we deserve a powerful and truly representative Union. We believe our greatest strength is our rank-and-file membership.

Our University is in crisis and our Union is at a crossroads. We need a bold plan of member-driven collective organizing and actions.

We want a Union where members feel a sense of belonging and ownership, where Union leadership listens to and engages with all members, in order to represent members’ diverse interests. To do this, our Union needs full democratic participation and transparency. We need to organize members to take action to build solidarity and collective power on our campus. We need to join forces with the invigorated labor movement that is fighting austerity practices on college campuses across the country.

Our Platform

Respect:

• All members are valued colleagues.
• All members have a right to freedom of speech and scholarly pursuits.
• Our students are valued members of our university community and we are committed to their success. 

Democracy: True democracy in a Union means members are empowered to do more than vote.

• All voices and perspectives are welcome in our Union. Members will be able to speak and ask questions in meetings. 
• Restore standing Union committees (e.g. Local Council and Negotiations Committee) and ensure a process for creating task forces for immediate needs (e.g. budget forum).
• Encourage and train Union members to hold Union offices. Term limits for all Union officers. Contested elections = strong Unions.
• Local negotiations are shaped by membership and conducted by the Negotiations Committee.

Action: 

• Formulate member-centered strategies and mobilize our collective power to stop layoffs and win back concessions.
• Regular organizing efforts to reach out to new members and energize continuing members.
• Support for caucuses where members can organize around specific needs.
• Fight for the needs of our most vulnerable members– adjuncts– to ensure pay parity, job security, and healthcare.
• Coalition-building with other university bodies such as the Faculty Senate, unions on campus, and AFT locals around the state.

Transparency: 

• All local minutes, resolutions, and negotiation positions are shared with the membership.
• Officers will have regular office hours.
• All negotiated positions are available to members.
• Move to a model of open local negotiations.
• All meetings will have an online option and will have open spaces to encourage dialogue. 

Inclusion & Justice: We are against all forms of injustice, including but not limited to racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia. We reject bigotry, oppression, degradation, and harassment toward any member of our community. We welcome discussions and will create spaces where we can challenge oppressive structures in our Union, institution, and communities.