Click to watch Mayor Baraka speak outside Bell House!
Actions to take: Join a union-sponsored canvass in Franklin Township this Sunday, April 27, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and talk to voters about why we think Ras Baraka should be elected governor. Click here to sign up.
Dear colleague,
This Sunday, you can meet the progressive candidate our unions have endorsed for New Jersey governor. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka will kick off a canvass that our two unions have organized in Franklin Township to talk to voters about the Democratic primary election coming up in June (click here to sign up). We have more canvasses and other events planned around the state, so stay tuned!
We hope you’ll take time in the days to come to learn more about Mayor Baraka and his campaign—and then commit to voting for him in the June Democratic primary; urging your friends, family, and colleagues to do the same; and working together to put a progressive new voice in the governor’s office.
Our unions have a lot at stake in this year’s election. That’s why we joined together with other progressive NJ unions and social justice advocates to endorse Mayor Baraka, giving his campaign a boost with the June primary approaching fast (vote-by-mail ballots have already gone out). As we wrote to you earlier this month:
Our university, our students, our members and colleagues, and our communities face difficult challenges and dire threats from the Trump administration’s assault. We need a governor who can represent our outrage on the national stage and articulate an alternative vision that puts New Jersey working people first.
Though there are several candidates in the Democratic primary field who align with our goals, none represent our union’s values more clearly than Mayor Baraka. He is the most progressive big-city mayor in America, willing to fight for public health care, workers’ rights, affordable housing, and our freedoms as educators, researchers, and active citizens. His higher education platform includes support for contingent faculty, improving health care for our members, lowering the fringe rates on state research grants, and making college more affordable for our students.
Now it’s time to get to work. We urge you to listen to and read about Mayor Baraka’s campaign—and then make plans to help us get him elected:
- Watch Mayor Baraka speak outside our union’s Bell House offices as we announced our endorsement.
- Go to the RasForGovernor.com website to learn more about the candidate.
- Join our Franklin Township canvass for Mayor Baraka on Sunday, April 27, at 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
- Sign up to hear about upcoming canvasses and other activities from our (low-traffic!) Legislative Committee listserve. Click the “Ask to join group” button.
- Get involved in your union! Fill out the form and indicate your area of interest in the last question.
In solidarity,
AAUP-AFT and Adjunct Faculty Union Joint Legislative Committee
Matthew Buckley, Joint Legislative Committee Co-Chair, Rutgers AAUP-AFT
Amy Higer, Joint Legislative Committee Co-Chair, Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union
Thomas Raggio, Joint Legislative Committee Co-Chair, Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union
Rutgers AAUP-AFT Facebook page: https://facebook.com/RUaaup/
Follow us on Twitter @ruaaup and Instagram @rutgersaaup
Freedom School YouTubeChannel: https://rutgersaaup.org/YouTube
Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rutgersptlfc
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @ruaaup_ptl
Visit our website: https://rutgers-ptlfc.org/