Shared Sacrifice

by: Maria DeFilippis - AFT Local 2375

Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 11:40:49 AM EDT

Hello Blue Jersey community.  My name is Maria DeFilippis, President of AFT Local #2375 representing the full and part time faculty at Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC).  As we currently work through contract negotiations, I wanted to introduce you to our situation and hopefully enlist your support and guidance as we move forward in bargaining for a fair contract for our members.  

On June 30, 2011, the faculty contract between the Raritan Valley Community College Board of Trustees and the Raritan Valley Community College Faculty Federation expired.  In years past negotiations were relatively simple: the Board asked for X, the faculty asked for Y, and we met in the middle at Z.  

Unfortunately, that has not been the case this year.  

We are currently operating in an environment without a good faith effort by our counterparts to reach a fair agreement.  They claim there is no room for any negotiation.  It is their way or the highway.  We understand the current economic climate is poor - as mostly working class people, we feel it ourselves.  

But in the face of how much the College is spending on salaries for administrators (which rank among the highest in the nation), as well as for car and housing allowances and personal expense accounts, we don't think the Administration is sharing in our sacrifice.    

And that is all we are asking for: shared sacrifice.  

At the very least we are owed a negotiations process where the Board is acting in good faith.  Since June 30, we don't think we've been afforded that right.  Raritan Valley Community College is one of the best community colleges in both New Jersey and the nation.  This is in large part credited to the work of our faculty. They deserve to be fairly compensated.  We will be paying more for our pension and health benefits.  Certainly it is not fair to expect dedicated faculty and staff to take a pay cut. , In addition, to ensure that the College can continue to recruit qualified faculty to our institution, it is necessary to negotiate a contract that provides for fair compensation for our members.      

Tonight members of our Local will be rallying before the Board of Trustees meeting in Branchburg outside the Atrium of RVCC at 5:45 PM.  
Along with students, faculty and supporters we are going to stand in solidarity to voice our discontent with the current state of the negotiations and our lack of a contract.  If possible, please join us and stand with our cause.  

As these negotiations unfold, I hope to return to Blue Jersey and keep everyone informed and updated on our efforts.  I also hope you can sign onto our efforts by following our AFT Local #2375 on Twitter and "liking" our Facebook page.

In solidarity.