Tentative Agreement on URA-AFT Contract

December 7, 2007

Members of the Rutgers Community:

We are pleased to announce that the university and the Union of Rutgers Administrators-American Federation of Teachers (URA-AFT) have reached a tentative agreement, subject to member ratification, on a new four-year contract that will run through June 30, 2011.

The URA-AFT was certified by the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission on June 7, 2007, as the union representing approximately 1,850 administrative employees at Rutgers.

The negotiating teams for the union and the university met 22 times between August 8 and December 4, 2007. The parties reached agreement on an initial contract December 4 at approximately 9:30 p.m.

The contract provides for a combination of across-the-board and merit-based raises over the four years of the agreement as follows:

July 1, 2007 (retroactive): 4.5 percent across-the-board increase
July 1, 2008: 1 percent across-the-board increase and 4 percent merit pool
July 1, 2009: 1.5 percent across-the-board increase and 3.5 percent merit pool
July 1, 2010: 2 percent across-the-board increase and 2 percent merit pool

The combined percentage increases are 4.5 percent, 5 percent, 5 percent, and 4 percent.

The union also has agreed to the same contributions for health benefits that other employee groups at Rutgers and other unions at the state level have agreed to as part of Governor Corzine's effort to restructure the State Health Benefits Program. Employees will contribute 1.5 percent toward health benefits.

In addition, in recognition of the timely completion of negotiations for this initial contract, a $500 bonus will be paid to each employee in February 2008.

The union is scheduled to vote on the agreement on December 15, 2007. We anticipate the ratification of this agreement; the contract will thereafter be available on the University Human Resources website.

The university and the URA-AFT thank and congratulate the negotiating teams for both sides. Both conducted themselves professionally and conscientiously at all times.

Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Lucye Millerand
President
Union of Rutgers Administrators-American Federation of Teachers