Executive Council member of the Rutgers American Association of University Professors-American Federation of Teachers, Todd Vachon returned to the America’s Work Force Union Podcast. Vachon is an Assistant Professor of Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Rutgers University.
After a five-day strike, Rutger’s three-union strike was put on hold as both negotiating parties reached a key framework for a new contract that included multiple improvements for all three unions. Thanks to the help of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, both sides were able to finish a new contract the following week, seven days after the first strike in 257 years on the Rutgers campus.
Vachon went on to detail the pay raises and other employment securities each union earned. Along with pay and job security issues, the union pushed for Common Good negotiations. Common Good negotiations are where the unions and management come together to provide improvements to the surrounding area. In the case of Rutgers, they agreed on a few topics, including allowing students in poor financial standing to still access their transcripts to better their ability to graduate and find a job. They also agreed to a fund called the Beloved Community Fund, where together with $600,000 from the Governor, Rutgers and local nonprofit organizations would work to provide funds to help local residents buy groceries, pay rent and other necessities.
Despite the positive outcome, there were some tough moments for everyone involved, Vachon said. One of the biggest challenges was keeping three separate unions organized and communicating during tough negotiations. When one union received their desired benefits midweek, Vachon discussed the effort needed to know the union would still be striking the next day as a show of solidarity. Those efforts to organize and network between all three unions before a strike is what Vachon believes was the key to remaining together in solidarity during negotiations.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.