Rutgers University and Faculty Unions Reach Historic Agreement, Providing Salary Increases and Job Security for Faculty Members

Rutgers University and union representatives have reached an agreement on a framework for new contracts with several faculty unions, ending a five-day strike that was the first of its kind in the 257-year history of New Jersey’s flagship university. The agreement was reached late Friday night with the aid of Governor Phil Murphy, allowing the university’s 67,000 students to resume their studies and pursue their academic degrees.

The strike was initiated on Monday by thousands of professors, part-time lecturers and graduate student workers, who were demanding salary increases, better job security for adjunct faculty members, and guaranteed funding for graduate students, among other requests.

The new deal will increase salaries for full-time faculty and New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund counselors by at least 14% by the summer of 2025, according to a statement from the university’s President, Jonathan Holloway. The agreement also includes a salary increase for part-time lecturers, improved job security for adjunct faculty, and guaranteed funding for graduate students.

The agreement is a major victory for the faculty unions, who had been without a contract for 10 months. The deal is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, and will be retroactive to the expiration of the previous contract in July 2020.

The agreement between Rutgers University and its faculty unions is a historic moment for the school, and a major win for the faculty unions. The new deal will provide salary increases and improved job security for faculty members, and guaranteed funding for graduate students. The agreement is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, and will be retroactive to the expiration of the previous contract in July 2020.