Following the strike, NEASO members allege that they have been locked out from work, that access to their work cell phones and accounts was cut, and that their return travel and hotel rooms were also canceled. Since then, negotiations have stalled, and the workers have maintained the picket line at the NEA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, the NEA displays the same union-busting tactics of the worst school districts and companies, at one point even threatening to cut off the health insurance of lock-out workers.

As a member of the NEA myself, I believe that the NEA’s stance is a betrayal of its stated core values. How can an organization advocate for students and teachers while neglecting its own staff’s welfare? How can I advocate for my students the importance of unions in maintaining our standard of living when my union is displaying these disgusting union-busting tactics? This contradiction has eroded trust and damaged the NEA’s credibility, calling into question its commitment to its professed ideals. As the strike continues, the NEA must reflect on its actions and the message it sends to its members and the public. It’s time for the association to listen, engage in sincere negotiations, and resolve this conflict by addressing NEASO’s legitimate concerns. The road to resolution is clear: respect, fairness, open dialogue, and a fair deal.

The post NEA Hypocrisy Largest Labor Union in the Country Displays Union Busting Tactics first appeared on Labor Today.

The post NEA Hypocrisy Largest Labor Union in the Country Displays Union Busting Tactics appeared first on Labor Today.

Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system, working tirelessly day and night to provide the best care for patients. They are often the first and last faces patients see during their hospital stays, and their contributions are invaluable. However, the demands placed on nurses have become increasingly overwhelming, with staffing shortages, excessive work hours, and inadequate compensation becoming all too common. As one nurse on the picket line stated.

The nurses at RWJ Hospital are striking not just for themselves, but for all healthcare workers and patients across the nation. Their demands for safe staffing levels and fair wages are a cry for the recognition of the essential role they play in our society. Adequate staffing ensures that nurses can provide the highest quality of care, preventing burnout and ensuring patient safety.

The working conditions that the nurses are fighting for are not some pie in the sky demands either, a nurse-to-patient ratio in a critical care unit of 1:2 or fewer at all times, and a nurse-to-patient ratio in an emergency department of 1:4 or fewer at all times that patients are receiving treatment is the standard in states such as New York and California. New Jersey, however, has no such standard and in RWJ these ratios can be as high as 1:14. As one nurse on the picket line stated, “we [are] the premier hospital in New Jersey that is setting the example which will go to legislation which every hospital in New Jersey will have to abide … that’s why the hospital doesn’t want to do it, we are faced off against corporate.”

Supporting the striking nurses at RWJ Hospital is not only about showing appreciation for their hard work; it is also about demanding accountability from healthcare institutions. Hospitals should prioritize the well-being of their staff and patients, not cuts to staffing to enrich shareholders. This strike is a wake-up call for them to do just that.

It is our duty as class-oriented trade unionists to rally behind these nurses in their fight for better conditions and fair wages. After all, the cuts in staffing effect the working-class more than anyone, as the bosses can afford to shell out extra money to get the best care these nurses are trying to ensure for everyone. We can do this by joining their picket lines, sharing their story on social media, and contacting hospital management to demand that they address the nurses’ concerns. By standing together, we can make a real difference and ensure that our healthcare system treats nurses with the respect and fairness they deserve.

In conclusion, the striking nurses at RWJ Hospital are not just fighting for their own rights; they are fighting for a better healthcare system for all of us. Their dedication to their profession and their patients should be celebrated and supported. Let us stand in solidarity with these nurses, demanding the reforms that will benefit not only them but also the future of healthcare in our communities.

The post Solidarity in Scrubs: Supporting the Striking Nurses at RWJ Hospital in New Jersey first appeared on Labor Today.

The post Solidarity in Scrubs: Supporting the Striking Nurses at RWJ Hospital in New Jersey appeared first on Labor Today.

The AAUP-AFT union has rightfully cited numerous issues that have led to their decision to strike, including inadequate pay, healthcare benefits, and job security. Despite the essential work that these employees carry out every day, they have not received the compensation they deserve. The university has also failed to prioritize the health and safety of its employees during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, causing further frustration and concern.

The strike is a necessary action to ensure that the voices of the AAUP-AFT union are heard and their demands are met. The university must recognize the vital role that its employees play and provide them with the respect, compensation, and job security that they deserve, in fact, as of December 2021, Rutgers University had an endowment of $1.98 billion meaning they have the means to meet the reasonable demands of the union workers.

The strike has gained widespread support, with many students, faculty members, and community leaders recognizing the importance of the union’s demands. It is time for Rutgers University to prioritize its employees and work towards a fair agreement that benefits everyone involved.

The situation at Rutgers is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for fair compensation and job security in universities across the country. The AAUP-AFT union deserves the support of all those who recognize the value of higher education and the essential work of its employees. Labor United will continue to monitor the situation as it develops but we hope that this will lead to further union militarization.

If you would like to show your support for the strike, picket signups are available at the link here.

Picket Line Info:

New Brunswick

Picket shifts: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. and 1 p.m.–5 p.m.

• College Ave: 43 College Ave., outside Scott Hall (smaller pickets may be set up in front of Winants, Academic Building, and SCI)
• Civic Square Building: Mason Gross/Bloustein, 33 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick
• Cook/Douglass: corner of George Street and Chapel Drive/Nichol Road
• Livingston: Livingston Student Center, 84 Joyce Kilmer Ave., Piscataway
• Busch: outside Campus Center, 604 Bartholomew Rd., Piscataway, bus stop side
• Main large rally site: Voorhees Mall, in back of Scott Hall

Newark

Hourly shifts: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

• Plaza in front of Robeson Campus Center, 350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
• Plaza outside Law School, between University Avenue and Washington Street

Camden

Picket shifts: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. and 1 p.m.–5 p.m.

• Outside Campus Center

The post Strike! Picket Lines Form in Historic Showdown as Faculty Union faces off against University first appeared on Labor Today.

The post Strike! Picket Lines Form in Historic Showdown as Faculty Union faces off against University appeared first on Labor Today.