AFT Local 1904 Supports Students

On Tuesday, January 15, 2013, AFT Local 1904 (Local) hosted a

Charity Dacey, Event Coordinator

pizza party for students who live on campus and didn't go home during the winter break. At the party, members of the Local provided 30 pizzas and distributed 130 care packages to students in the multi-purpose room in The Machuga Heights.

 

"For a variety of reasons, some students remain on campus during the winter break. Sometimes it's too costly go to go home, and for others the University is the place they call home," says Rich Wolfson, President of AFT Local 1904. Dr. Wolfson explained, "Our members wanted to do something for these students to show them our support and to continue our tradition of making campus a welcoming place."

 

University Professional Staff Review Board

The MSU AFT 1904 will constitute the UNIVERSITY PROFESSIONAL STAFF REVIEW BOARD (UPSRB) as per our current MSU Local Selected Procedures Agreement (LSPA). The function of the UPSRB will be to hear appeals concerning annual reappointments, reclassifications, multi-year appointments and reappointments, promotions, and personal development leaves. Appropriate concerns for the Board would include inadequate consideration where an individual has reason to believe that a prima facie case can be established to the effect that a full and fair consideration was denied either through acts of omission (e.g., failure to evaluate entire vita) or commission (e.g., undue emphasis given to certain aspects of the position).

 

The UPSRP will consist of eight (8) elected professional staff members with at least three (3) years of service and in the negotiating unit. UPSRB members will be elected for a term of one (1) year commencing July 1. Members will be elected by unit as indicated below:

• One (1) by professional staff in each college or school, total of five (5)
• One (1) by professional staff in the Graduate School
• One (1) by professional staff in the Division of University Advancement
• One (1) by professional staff in the Division of Student Development and Campus

The Union and the Administration will each appoint an ex-officio member without vote to serve as observers for their constituents and as resource persons for the UPSRB.

 

NOTE: No member of the Administration, unit director or individual applying for reclassification, promotion, personal development leave, or for multi-year reappointment may serve.

 

The AFT Local 1904 Officers are now requesting self-nominations sent via email to Dana Natale, Chairperson of the UPSRB Elections Committee (Dana.Natale@aftlocal1904.org).

 

A list of candidates will be circulated to the membership through an AFT Local 1904 email memorandum. Elections, by secret ballot, will be held at the next General Union Meeting, on February 13, 2013. The Chairperson of the UPSRB Elections Committee will forward the election results to the VPAA and the AFT Local 1904 President.

 

It will be the joint responsibility of the AFT Local 1904 and the University Administration to convene the first meeting of the Board.

 

BKMUW Scholarship Applications Available

The DREAM Act

For many years, undocumented workers, their families, and allies have pressured Congress to enact a humane immigration policy. The Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors (DREAM) Act was originally introduced by Senator Durbin and Congressman Berman. Since 2001, however, the DREAM Act has been defeated 13 times in Congress.

 

In recent years, undocumented student activists around the country have courageously campaigned nationwide for passage of the act. These undertakings, together with the very apparent influence of Latino voters in the recent presidential election, have put the proposed legislation on the front burner.

 

The DREAM Act would allow qualifying undocumented youth a pathway toward US citizenship. The initial requirements to participate in this process would be as follows:

• Must have entered the United States before the age of 16 (i.e., 15 and younger)
• Must have been present in the United States for at least five (5) consecutive years prior to enactment of the bill
• Must have graduated from a United States high school, or have obtained a GED, or have been accepted into an institution of higher education (i.e., college/university)
• Must be between the ages of 12 and 35 at the time of application
• Must have a good moral character 

Once approved and granted Conditional Permanent Residency, the individual would have to do one of the following:

• Enroll in an institution of higher education in order to pursue a bachelor's degree or higher degree or
• Enlist in one of the branches of the United States Military

Additional requirements include the following:

• Within 6 years of approval for conditional permanent residency, the individual must have completed at least two (2) years of one of the options outlined in the previous step
• Once 5 ½ years of the 6 years have passed, the individual will then be able to apply for Legal Permanent Residency (dropping the conditional part) and consequently would be able to apply for United States Citizenship

Those who have already completed at least 2 years of college education towards a bachelor's degree or higher degree, would have to wait the 5 ½ years in order to apply for Legal Permanent Residency even though they may have already obtained a degree.

 

Students who do not complete the requirements would be disqualified.

Current Events

Links to Recent Articles of Interest

Member News and Notes

In solidarity,

Rich

General Union Meeting:

When:   Wed, Feb. 13th
Time:    2:30-4:00 p.m.

Where:  SC 419   

The Essex-West Hudson Labor Council's scholarship award for high school seniors is now accepting applications. Eligible applicants must be accepted at an accredited college or post-high school education program. Children of full dues paying members AFT Local 1904 who meet the above stated criteria are eligible to apply. The application deadline is April 26, 2013. For additional information, please  click here. 

Although it seems far off, the November elections are just around the corner. Make no mistake, it is possible for Governor Christie to be beaten. He is on the wrong side of women's issues and health care reform, including not implementing the health care exchange that would reduce YOUR health care expenses. He has not brought down property taxes as he has promised and refuses to raise the income tax rates on millionaires while the working poor and middle class continue to pay higher percentages of their incomes on taxes than the one-percent do. He vetoed fair minimum wage legislation and rejected federal Medicaid dollars. And make no mistake about it, Governor Christie instructed his representatives to take money out of your pockets as inflation eats away at your salaries. He also limited your access to programs like Career Development and Sabbatical Leaves, which strengthen our academic mission.

 

At this point the front running Democratic contender is NJ State Senator Barbara Buono. 

Buono is a friend of Labor and state workers. She has a proven track record of supporting New Jersey's infrastructure, fair tax rates, the working poor, the middle class, and state workers. The leadership of the Council of NJ State College Locals and AFT NJ are discussing how we can intervene and support a candidate who understands our needs.

 

Again, Governor Christie can be beaten in November. In order to do that, state workers, Labor, and those who care about equity and social justice must get involved.