First Update on Strike and Negotiations

April 10, 2023
 
Dear Members of the Rutgers Community,

I think that it is important that you receive regular, accurate updates with respect to the strike that has been called by three of our faculty unions.

As you know, after several weeks of intense negotiations, mediators from the State were asked, beginning last Friday, to sit in on our contract negotiations with the AAUP-AFT, Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union, and AAUP-BHSNJ. By Sunday afternoon it was clear that the outstanding issues were not moving toward resolution, and Governor Murphy summoned our negotiators and the negotiators from our faculty unions to meet in the Statehouse, along with representatives of his office, to come to an agreement.

We are encouraged by Governor Murphy’s request and genuinely welcome his leadership. We are hopeful that we can quickly come to a resolution of the remaining outstanding issues.

The Governor also asked me personally to delay taking legal action asking the courts to order strikers back to work. I agreed to the Governor’s important request while it appears that progress can be made. 

Obviously, if there is no movement towards an agreement, we will have no choice but to take legal action to assure the continued academic progress of our students and prevent irreparable harm. This is especially important for the thousands of students who are finishing their academic careers at Rutgers and are only a few weeks away from earning their degrees.

Negotiations at the Statehouse began at about noon today and are continuing.

In the meantime, our campuses are open and operating, including all academic buildings and libraries. We encourage students to continue attending their classes and doing their coursework, and we ask faculty and staff to continue doing their work as we carry out the business of the university.

As a final but important note, we did receive reports today of classes being disrupted by protesters. In one instance, protesters actually entered a class where a critical exam was being conducted. While I respect the right of people to peacefully protest, there is no excuse for interfering with classes being taught by faculty who are choosing to continue with their jobs and meet their obligations to our students. I hope the union leadership will join me in urging their members to be respectful of our students and supportive of their academic progress.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Holloway
President and University Professor