Rutgers reaches agreement with union over organizing 2,000 workers

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.amny.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--rutgers-unionorga0425apr25,0,2675760.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) _ Thousands of midlevel administrators at Rutgers University came closer Wednesday to forming a labor union.

The majority of 2,000 workers had signed cards authorizing the formation of the Union of Rutgers Administrators-American Federation of Teachers, according to Nat Bender, a business school outreach worker who's on the union organizing committee.

The cards _ signed by administrative assistants, researchers, agriculture workers, and outreach workers _ were to be turned into the New Jersey Public Employees Relations Commission, Bender said.

Under New Jersey law, the commission would need to verify the cards and organizing unit, as well as investigate any possible challenges from the university. The process will likely take weeks, according to Betty McGoldrick, a staff attorney with the commission.

The university administration planned to fully cooperate with the filing of the petition, said Rutgers spokesman Greg Trevor.

FULL story at link.