Rutgers Unions File Charges With Federal Govt. Over Payment Squabble

On Thursday, unions representing thousands of Rutgers employees, ranging from housekeepers to scientists, filed charges with the U.S. Department of Labor, accusing Rutgers University of violating federal wage and hour laws.

In October 2016, after switching payroll systems, Rutgers withheld one week’s salary from employees who were formerly employed by the University of Medicine and Dentistry, union leaders say. Unions representing these employees - the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU (CIR/SEIU) Teamsters Local 97, the Communication Workers of America Local 1031 and the American Association of University Professors – Biomedical and Health Sciences of New Jersey (AAUP-BHSNJ) - have joined together to demand that the University pay their members the missing week of pay, as well as fines. The four unions represent housekeepers, clerical staff, doctors, clinicians, scientists, librarians, and operations and maintenance staff, employed throughout the University.

“We estimate that Rutgers is withholding over $500,000 in wages due its employees," said CWA Local 1031 Vice President Kathy Hernandez.

"We can’t comment on the specifics of any action that may be pending," said Karen Smith, Interim Senior Director of Rutgers University News & Media Relations. "We will however note that we have been working with our union partners to resolve the issue of the one-week holdback of pay for former UMDNJ employees that has been in place for many years, and long before the integration of UMDNJ into Rutgers. We look forward to having all outstanding issues resolved in a way that is appropriate, timely and beneficial."

“In today’s era of electronic paychecks, there should be no delay in issuing an immediate paycheck for the missing week to employees,” said Ilyssa DeCasperis, Executive Director of the AAUP-BHSNJ.

Patch photo/Carly Baldwin