With a friend in the governor's mansion and the appeals of adjunct and part-time faculty starting to hit home, prospects for legislative action on a number of issues look good for this year, says Nick Yovnello, president of the New Jersey Council of State College Locals.

On June 24, Gov. James McGreevey signed Assembly Bill 459, which requires the Legislature to hold hearings on adjunct pay and benefits. Before the hearings can take place, however, New Jersey's Commission on Higher Education must gather information on adjunct pay and benefits in the state's public institutions and make a recommendation on establishing a minimum. The bill also requires the union representing the employees at each institution to provide its figures to the Legislature. All this must be wrapped up by the end of September, so the findings of the legislative study should be released this semester, says Yovnello.

In addition, two other bills are likely to become law, which will improve health benefits for all faculty in the state. Although unions in New Jersey negotiate for major medical benefit coverage, they cannot negotiate the details. These are set by a commission consisting of the state treasurer, the commissioner of banking and insurance, and the director of the state health benefits program. The two measures, which are expected to pass, will permit part-time and adjunct faculty to participate in the state's health benefits program at cost, and will provide for the election of employee representatives to serve on the state health benefits commission.  [Barbara McKenna / AFT On Campus]

[September 10, 2002]