Coalition of Rutgers Unions hosts town hall on infrastructure issues

The Coalition of Rutgers Unions held a virtual town hall on Tuesday night to discuss safety and infrastructure concerns at the University. Involved unions included the Rutgers chapters of American Association of University Professors (AAUP), Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE) Local 5094, and the Union of Rutgers Administrators (URA) Local 1766. 

The meeting was called in order to discuss university communications towards faculty and staff regarding New Jersey’s state of emergency during Monday’s blizzard conditions. Their Instagram post noted that “essential workers don’t get emergency pay. Non-essential workers can use their hard-earned personal time to stay home, with departmental discretion. Across the university, faculty and staff are being asked to choose between their work and their safety.” 

During the town hall, union members shared their experiences with existing infrastructure issues, with an emphasis on the over $8 billion in deferred maintenance that the University is currently responsible for. The restored state budget for fiscal year 2026 allocated $250 million in capital support for New Jersey’s higher education institutions for deferred maintenance projects.

They also discussed accessibility concerns, seasonally inadequate building temperatures, and health issues stemming from facility deterioration. Multiple staff members were told that Rutgers would be conducting “business as usual” during the blizzard despite classes switching to remote for Monday and Tuesday.

The Coalition also discussed their plans for future campaigns as the University anticipates further budget cuts within the next year. 

Story by Keya Raval. Maryam Malihi contributed to this report.