Update on Labor Negotiations as You Return from Spring Break

March 21, 2023
 
Dear Rutgers Students:

I hope that you had a pleasant and recuperative spring break. During the past week, some students have reached out to express concerns about a potential faculty strike, so I am writing to update you on where we are with labor negotiations and to bring some comfort and clarity as you return to campus. 

I want to say from the start that few things are as important to me as assuring that Rutgers students have the encouragement, the academic support, and the tools they need to proceed unimpeded on the path to their degree. To that end, please know that we are in intensive negotiating sessions with our unions and are exchanging proposals on wages and other areas for both faculty and staff, always mindful of the potential financial impact on students and the university’s budgetary constraints. 

Yesterday, we made an offer on compensation to the faculty unions that exceeds the offer that the unions agreed to four years ago, during the last round of contract negotiations. We are making our offers and are responding to counter offers in good faith, and I believe there is real progress being made on reaching agreements on contracts that are fair, reasonable, and responsible. 
 
It is well-established that strikes by public employees are unlawful in New Jersey.  This activity includes work stoppages and work slowdowns, among other things. We hope that the courts would not have to be called upon to halt to an unlawful strike. No one wants that, nor does anyone want faculty or others to go without pay during an illegal strike. Most important, no one wants to disrupt the academic progress of more than 67,000 Rutgers students.

I don’t believe it will come to that, but we have more work to do before we arrive at a solution that meets all parties' needs.

A final note for our graduating students: our plans for commencements on all our campuses in May are unchanged. I am confident that the commencement speakers will be uplifting, and I know that the ceremonies celebrating your dedication, your families' sacrifices, and the support you have received from our faculty will be spectacular. 

I am glad to have you back on campus and look forward to finishing out this academic year in fine Rutgers fashion.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Holloway
President and University Professor