TL;DR
The Unified Bargaining Committee met with management at Liberty Plaza on October 20. Both sides discussed the article on University Correctional Health Care, with members present to answer questions about workload and patient care. Much of the session was spent educating management on the unique challenges of providing healthcare in a prison setting.
We presented a counter on the Side Letter on the Rutgers Immigrant Community Assistance Project (RICAP), which management had struck during the last session. Our intention is still to enshrine the resources provided under RICAP in our contract for the years to come. Management provided a counter on Conditions of Employment (Article 22A).
Highlights from the Session
Discussion of University Correctional Health Care (UCHC) Article
Last year, a group of Rutgers physicians and dentists who provide medical care to incarcerated people in the state of New Jersey (through “University Correctional Healthcare,” or UCHC) joined our union. In June, we presented a proposal to ensure safe staffing levels, high-quality patient care, workload protections, and meaningful clinician voice at UCHC.
Management has yet to respond to our proposal. At bargaining, management asked questions of the UCHC clinicians about the nature of their work and the reasoning behind our proposals. The clinicians explained the unique challenges that they face on the job in working to provide high-quality healthcare to an especially vulnerable population.
Management said that they will prepare a counter-proposal based on this discussion.
Union Counters on the Side Letter on RICAP
The Rutgers Immigrant Community Assistance Project (RICAP) is a Rutgers Law School program that provides incredible immigration and visa support services for members of our community, including undergraduate and graduate students. While we are happy to hear that the university has every intention to maintain RICAP, it is of great importance to our members and international students that the program continues into the future. If management also wants this program to continue, why is there a debate over inclusion in our contract? Following last week’s rejection of the Side Letter, we countered with language that we believe should be easy for management to agree to. Management heard our counter and asked questions. We await their response.
Next Steps
The next bargaining session is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m., at the Stanley Bergen Building in Newark.