Wednesday Whiteout Brings Double Standard for Staff

URA-AFT New Brunswick Campus vice president Kathryn Neal has asked University Human Resources (UHR) for an explanation of why offices on the New Brunswick campus remained open Wednesday while Newark and Camden campuses were completed closed. “The National Weather Service issued a blizzard condition warning for New Jersey and Governor Christie authorized the closure of all state offices,” Neal noted.

The URA-AFT negotiated an article that gives non-essential employees some options in the event of extreme weather conditions, for example, staying home and charging vacation or other time. The article is posted online at: http://www.ura-aft.org/contract/48UniversityClosings.shtml. If you had a problem with your supervisor about attendance or tardiness on Wednesday, please email union@ura-aft.org as this is a violation of the contract and can be grieved.

Regardless of this option, Neal said that keeping offices open while canceling classes means that there is a double standard at work. "Staff are being told to venture out in dangerous conditions when faculty and students are told to stay home and be safe,“ she said.

Neal and URA are following up on the issue and we will keep you posted. Meanwhile, other URA stewards are investigating related matters, including a department where supervisors verbally reprimanded members for not working at home, and another where supervisors permitted NL employees, but not NE’s to work from home.