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The dues increase vote passed by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. On Monday, March 17, observers of the ballot count certified that 584 yes votes and 304 no votes were cast. The ballot count observers were Haim Baruh, Rudy Bell, Adrienne Eaton, Zoran Gajic, Harry Janes, and Brian Graf. The dues increase will go into effect on July 1, 2008. The new dues rate for full-time faculty and the EOF Counselors is 0.75% and for TA/GAs, 0.60%. The dues rate will also increase for representation fee payers. The dues rate for the Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter will not increase because they did not put a dues increase vote to their members.
Click here to read President Lisa C. Klein's letter thanking members for their support.
What is the cost? Click here to view a chart with sample dollar amounts for the cost of union dues to members. Union dues are tax deductible.
What is the value? The value per dollar of union dues is reflected in the contract the underwrites working conditions that often may be taken for granted. The substantive programmatic work and the ability to develop priorities for the future of our members as well as office space in a more accessible location will be enhanced by the new revenues that will come in. See here for a summary of our programmatic work.
Below are frequently asked questions and documents related to the dues increase:
Why is a dues increase necessary?
The Rutgers AAUP-AFT is entering a new era. Exciting advances resulting from our recently negotiated contract with the RU Administration demonstrate that the union is taking on tough issues in a challenging political and fiscal environment.
The new broader scope of union activity means that our operating costs are increasing at a faster rate than our revenue stream will be able to cover. This is true both for our substantive program work as well as our necessary transition to our new office at 11 Stone Street on the College Avenue Campus.
We are proposing a modest dues increase of 0.10% from the current rate of 0.65% to 0.75% for full-time faculty and from 0.5% to 0.6% for teaching and graduate assistants. The deadline to return your mail ballot is March 14 at 4 PM.
This modest dues increase is one of the smartest investments we can make as Rutgers faculty members. It provides the union with the resources to effectively advance our priorities in the coming years. Click here to see the message from President Lisa Klein.
We provide the following information:
Financial Information
Summary of Rutgers AAUP-AFT programmatic work
Information about the new office space
Eviction Notice
Office photos--Both the Old and the New
AFT Affiliation
Comparative Dues Information
What do other faculty union members
pay?
Cost of Dues Increase by Base Salary
Member Meetings to discuss dues increase
Voting Procedures
TA/GA Dues Increase Letter
Financial Information
Most Recent Budget Variance Report, January 18, 2008
Actual Expenses by Major Categories for the past three fiscal years:
Actual Expenses, FY 2004-2005
Actual Expenses, FY 2005-2006
Actual Expenses, FY 2006-2007
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Rutgers AAUP-AFT's Substantive Program Work
While the matter of proper offices is essential, the proposed increase directly supports the advances in rights and benefits negotiated in our contract. The substantive programmatic work for our members includes:
- Implementing the new paid parental leave provision and advancing family-friendly policies through the University-Wide Work and Family Committee
- Increasing the ranks of tenured faculty through the innovative Faculty Development Fund
- Promoting a quality working environment to attract the best graduate students, including such issues as workload protection and elimination of student fees
- Improving conditions for non-tenure-track faculty through the Non-Tenure-Track Task Force
- Negotiating salary increases to maintain our competitive edge among peer institutions for faculty and teaching/graduate assistants
- Counseling and representing junior faculty in their quest for tenure
- Providing effective representation, which is vital for faculty governance and due process protections
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Rutgers AAUP-AFT New Office at 11 Stone Street on the College Avenue Campus
- We have received an eviction notice regarding our current rented offices, which we have occupied for 25 years. Demolition of the current building in the Camp Kilmer barracks is planned by the university. All other tenants have already been relocated. Click here to see photos of the current rental space.
- After a thorough search to find affordable space in and around Rutgers failed, the union decided that the purchase of property would be a wiser long-term solution. Conversion of the property to non-profit business use (including a code complaint elevator and sprinkler system) required significant renovation. Click here to see photos of the house being renovated.
- The monthly mortgage is higher than the old monthly rent; we are currently paying both the mortgage of $5442 and rent of $3249 (which RU increased in July 2007) during the remodeling phase. This is a temporary drain on our resources, but the long-term gain is that we are building equity and a hedge against future crises. The recently appraised value of $1,250,000 equals the combined purchase price of $699,000 and the approximate renovation costs of $550,000.
- With the new office, we will be responsible for utilities, telephone service, and janitor and maintenance services. Cost-savings will be realized eventually from the new heating and air conditioning system and energy-efficient windows.
The benefits derived from the move are clear: The new location at 11 Stone Street on the College Avenue Campus improves access for members, while it raises the union's profile in the university community as a whole.
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Building greater strength for higher education has never been more critical or more difficult. Our affiliation with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has been a vital part of our strategic plan to build support for Higher Education in the State of New Jersey--a challenge that is being confronted in the context of a weak economy and a tough political climate. A membership vote on making our AFT affiliation permanent will be coming up in April. Our union has benefited from additional AFT resources and training as well as the expertise and dedication of our staff and member activists.
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Comparative Dues Information
Our current dues rate has been at the same level for 16 years, while our responsibilities have increased and our operating costs have gone up at a faster rate.
- The members last approved a 0.15% dues increase in 1992.
- A faculty member earning the current average salary would pay just $3.52 more each pay period.
- Membership dues are figured on your base salary only, not summer salary.
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We have one of the lowest dues rates for state universities in the U.S.
What do other faculty union members pay?
City University of New York--1..05% of salary
State University of New York--1.0% of salary
University of Vermont--1.0% of salary
Temple University--1.0% of salary
University of Florida--1.0% of salary
University of Connecticut--0.9% of salary
University of Rhode Island--0.81% plus $161*
Rutgers University--0.65% of salary (current amount)
*annual individual AAUP national dues
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Cost of Dues Increase by Base Salary
Click here to see a chart showing the cost of the dues increase for a sampling of base salaries for full-time faculty and teaching and graduate assistants.
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More information
You may obtain more information by attending campus member meetings or calling the union office at 732-445-2278.
Click here to see the flyer for the campus meetings.
If you plan to attend a member meeting, please RSVP to deniseb@rutgersaaup.org or by phone to the AAUP-AFT office at 732-445-2278, ext. 15.
MEMBER MEETINGS
Camden
Tuesday, February 26
12:15 -1:15 PM
Campus Center, West AB Conference Room
Light lunch provided
New Brunswick
Thursday, February 28
2:30 - 3:30 PM
Busch Campus Center, Room 122 ABC
Refreshments provided
Newark
Wednesday, March 5
2:30 - 3:30 PM
Robeson Campus Center, Room 227
Refreshments provided
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Voting
Voting is by mail ballot. The ballot must be returned to the Rutgers AAUP-AFT office in Piscataway by Friday, March 14, 2008 at 4 PM. Our address is 48 Street 1603 (Livingston Campus), Piscataway, NJ 08854
Contact Denise, if you need ballot materials, at 732-445-2278 or email her at deniseb@rutgersaaup.org.
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