RWU Faculty and Staff Rally in Solidarity Against Illegal Furlough

BRISTOL, R.I. —Roger Williams University faculty and staff represented by the National Education Association Rhode Island (NEARI) rallied Thursday outside a meeting of the RWU Board of Trustees, demanding the university rescind its mandatory furlough plan, which union members contend is illegal and unfair to employees.

Dozens of union members gathered outside North Campus Residence Hall, directly beneath the second-floor room where trustees were meeting, carrying signs, chanting loudly, and ringing cowbells throughout the demonstration. Chants included “Boss says furlough, we say hell no!” and “Hey Board, what cheer? Get that furlough outta here!”

During the rally, RWU Faculty Association President Cliff Murphy hand delivered a letter to the Board of Trustees through Vice President of Human Resources Tom McDonough, reiterating union members’ demand that the furlough program be rescinded immediately.

In the letter, NEARI-affiliated unions stated that the furlough program is “unlawful and unfair,” violates existing union contracts, and has caused “undue hardship, extreme stress, and severe disruption to the lives of all employees.” The letter also asserted that the Board of Trustees has the authority to reverse the policy and called on trustees to rescind the furloughs and make affected employees whole.

The rally featured remarks from: 

• NEARI President Val Lawson
• RWU Professor June Speakman, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science
• NEARI Executive Director Mary Barden
• RI AFL-CIO President Patrick Crowley
• UFCW Local 328 Secretary-Treasurer Domenic Pontarelli
• State Representative Brandon Potter (RWU Alum as well)
• Jennifer Campbell, Ph.D., Professor of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition

“Faculty and staff are standing together because this furlough plan is wrong, unnecessary, and damaging to the entire university community,” said Murphy. “Our members negotiated contracts in good faith, and we expect the university to honor them.”

Union leaders also criticized university leadership for moving forward with the furlough program despite ongoing legal challenges and widespread opposition from employees across campus.

The letter delivered Thursday states that the unions have filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board and are pursuing contractual grievances through arbitration. 

The National Education Association Rhode Island (NEARI) is a union and professional organization with a proud history of serving Rhode Island since 1845. NEARI is nearly 12,000 members strong, including classroom teachers; education support professionals; higher education faculty, staff, and graduate assistants; municipal and state workers; and retirees. We are affiliated with the National Education Association (NEA) and RI AFL-CIO. Learn more at www.neari.org.