Roger Williams faculty and staff rally during Board of Trustees meeting
By: Sarah Price
Photo Credits: Alex Tavaglione & Brenna Medeiros
BRISTOL, R.I. — On Thursday, May 14, 2026, the Roger Williams University Faculty Association (RWUFA) rallied outside of the North Campus Residents’ Hall in response to the mandatory furlough being implemented.
The rally, organized by RWUFA and the other unions under the National Education Association of Rhode Island (NEARI), drew dozens of supporters, such as staff, faculty members, and more, to the residence hall where the Board of Trustees was meeting.
Several days before the rally, internal messages circulated between faculty and colleagues, encouraging “anyone willing and able to join in demonstrating our solidarity and resistance.” The organizers also urged faculty to submit grades as close as possible to the 5 pm May 20 contractual deadline, when 149 faculty are to be furloughed.
Those in attendance at the rally carried signs, chanted, and rang cowbells. The different chants included “Hey Board, you can’t hide, we can see your greedy side!” and “Get that furlough outta here!”
Along with the faculty and staff in attendance, students attended the rally in support of those affected by the furlough. The rwustudents4change Instagram account issued this statement about the rally: “Today, we sent a clear message to the Board of Trustees: the furlough plan is illegal and unfair to affected employees. As we close out this academic year, we must continue to work with affected parties until this plan is rescinded. When we rally together, we can guarantee our voices are heard.”
Roger Williams rising senior Diana Micalizzi attended the rally and spoke out on her frustration with the furlough. “Closing the blind spoke volumes on all of their values,” Micalizzi commented on the rwustudents4change post. “Disgusting how the board treats our faculty.”
As was stated in a Press Release from NEARI, “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through Vice President of Human Resources Tom McDonough, reiterating union members’ demand that the furlough program be rescinded immediately.”
The rally featured several speakers, including NEARI President Val Lawson, RWU Professor June Speakeman, RWU Professor Jennifer Campbell, RI AFL-CIO President Patrick Crowley, UFCW Local 328 Secretary-Treasurer Domenic Pontarelli, and State Representative Brandon Potter, who is an RWU alumnus.
Mary Barden, the Executive Director of NEARI, also spoke at the rally, expressing that they want the Board of Trustees to hear their members. “We just want the board […] to hear us, and for them to make the right decision and the legal decision and the ethical and moral decision to follow the contracts that they negotiated with these members and to stop the furlough.”
“When the university came out and said that they were going to implement the furlough, we filed grievances, we filed unfair labor practices, and we were requested to bargain over the issue,” added Barden. “All three of these unions have ongoing, settled contracts. And so the furlough is illegal in terms of unfair labor practice. And it’s also against the contract, the negotiated wages that these unions that represent these folks have already negotiated and settled.”
After the rally and press release from NEARI, the University issued an official statement stating, “The week-long furlough impacts nearly all Roger Williams University employees. We understand the hardship this may present, and the institution respects the unions’ right to peacefully protest.”
Stated within the NEARI press release, union leaders criticize university leadership for “moving forward with the furlough program despite ongoing legal challenges and widespread opposition from employees across campus.”
The Capsized Tribune is continuing our investigation, and more information will be brought to you as we receive it. Stay updated through our website and media platforms.
