Rutgers AAUP-AFT Mission Statement

The mission of the Rutgers AAUP-AFT is to:

1. Promote the well-being of its unit members and commit ourselves to social justice, equity, security, and dignity for all regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender or gender expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, ancestry, class, caste, or any other salient identity, protected or otherwise; 
2. Protect and improve the University’s teaching, research, and service activities as a public good;
3. Promote the development of the intellectual capacities and economic interests of students, the public, and workers at the university;
4. Advance academic freedom and shared governance within the University; 
5. Build community and labor coalitions to achieve educational and economic justice in accordance with the labor principle that “an injury to one, is an injury to all,” particularly by standing in solidarity with:
   1. Other unions at Rutgers (as well as workers not part of unions);
   2. Our students; and
   3. Members of the communities in which our campuses are located;
6. Acknowledge and confront power differentials and histories of privilege and oppression within organized labor and within our represented units. To address this, we will:
   1. Fight for unity among units;
   2. Build power with one another in good faith, according to democratic principles; and 
   3. Use mediation with the possibility for restorative justice approaches where redress is needed, as outlined in our community guidelines and code of conduct; 
7. Establish and maintain orderly and practicable democratic processes in the management of Rutgers AAUP-AFT, as the collective bargaining agent for members of the bargaining unit, in accordance with the terms of this statement, the community guidelines, and the bylaws.