membenefits

Rutgers AAUP-AFT negotiates the terms and conditions of employment with our employer, Rutgers University Administration, and thereby protects and seeks enhancement of the compensation and benefits of all employees who work in job titles that are covered by one of our union contracts (collective bargaining agreements).

In addition, the local union has enhanced the value of your membership by affiliating with two national organizations, American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT). One of the ways that these affiliations enhance the value of your membership is the mass purchasing power of these two national organizations enabling them to make available to full dues-paying members services at prices below those which an employee could obtain as an individual consumer.

American Federation of Teachers (AFT), AFL-CIO
555 New Jersey Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001
202-879-4400
888-238-5646 Membership Department

Members can go online to learn more about AFT+ Benefits "The Community Advantage" at http://www.aft.org/benefits. The categories of benefits or consumer products include AFT+ endorsed insurance, health, legal and financial services, travel and entertainment, shopping, scholarship, and loan forgiveness.

A subscription to AFT's On Campus is free with membership in Rutgers AAUP-AFT. New members are automatically sent a new member's packet that includes information about benefits and services as well as the journal. You may also call the Rutgers AAUP-AFT office at 732-964-1000 to request the latest packet.

American Association of University Professors (AAUP)
1133 Nineteenth Street, NW, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-737-5900
Fax 202-737-5526

National AAUP staff person, Martin Snyder, is fielding questions about the insurance plans. His phone number is 202-737-5900, ext. 139.

AAUP members are also eligible to apply for a credit card with no annual fee and to obtain a discount on a subscription to the Chronicle of Higher Education. A subscription to AAUP's journal Academe comes with membership in Rutgers AAUP-AFT at no extra charge.

State Health Benefits Program (SHBP)

Choices

The choices available are NJ Direct15 Plan (administered by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey) or one of the two HMO choices, CIGNA or Aetna.

Benefits Information for Rutgers Employees through Rutgers University Human Resources. You may call for assistance from an RU benefits specialist at 732-932-3020.

For more information on state health benefits, you can also visit the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) web site at state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/.

Eligibility

Who is eligible to enroll in the State Health Benefits Program?

Regularly appointed full-time employees (including Teaching and Graduate Assistants)
Legal spouse
Same-sex domestic partner or civil union partner
Unmarried dependent children under the age of 23 (including stepchildren, foster children, adopted children, or children an employee is legally required to support).

Less than half-time Teaching Assistants are eligible to enroll in the Graduate Fellows' health plan, but not the SHBP. Part-Time Lecturers have a buy-in option to the SHBP secured by legislative advocacy. (PTLs read more below.)

Enrollment Periods

A 60-day enrollment period for the SHBP begins when you start working at Rutgers or you may enroll annually during the October open enrollment period. After you are enrolled, you may make changes whenever they occur (e.g., marriage, birth or adoption of children, foster children or stepchildren added to your family, or a court determines that you are legally required to provide support for a child).

Newly hired academic year 10-month employment positions with a September 1 start date can expect to have health insurance become effective on September 1. You have 60 days from the day you begin working to sign the necessary paperwork. Attending orientation sessions for your position will be the quickest and easiest way to look over the information, get your questions answered, and sign up for the health benefits or waive your right to these health insurance benefits. You may waive these benefits, e.g. being under the age of 23 and covered under your parents' health insurance plan. If you have signed this waiver, switching to the SHBP when you age-out of your parents' plan becomes an easy matter. Neglecting this matter can cause problems that might not be easily resolved.

Cost-sharing and Pattern Bargaining

Effective July 1, 2007, State employees began contributing 1.5% of their salary toward health benefits. This cost-sharing applies to full-time faculty, graduate student workers (Teaching Assistants and Graduate Assistants), and EOF Counselors. Employees who are represented by Rutgers AAUP-AFT do not negotiate with the State of New Jersey directly for their health benefits, but we are linked to the benefits negotiated by the unions that do negotiate with the State on behalf of the faculty working at the State Colleges (AFT affiliated local unions). Also pattern bargaining based on what is negotiated by other state worker unions has an impact on our benefits.

Part-Time Lecturers are eligible to buy into the State Health Benefits Program at their own expense. In addition, the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter of Rutgers AAUP-AFT negotiated some additional health care options that might be appropriate for some members. These additional benefits are not as comprehensive as the State Health Benefits Plan, but they may serve some members' needs. For the State Health Benefits Program, employees do not need to become full dues-paying members of the union to enroll, but these new additional limited medical insurance options negotiated by the PTL chapter are available only to full members.

Go here to learn more about PTL health benefits and other benefits, such as the annual awards from the Professional Development Fund.

Contact the Rutgers AAUP-AFT office at 732-964-1000 for more information.