Unions representing staff and faculty at UMass and the state colleges were pleased, noting that this is exactly what they have been demanding since negotiations commenced last winter. "We've been very clear all along --- none of our members should take a pay cut. We understand the fiscal difficulties the state is facing, but at a minimum we deserve a true cost of living increase. I hope they feel the same way when they make us a salary offer," said C. J. O'Donnell, President of the Massachusetts State College Association.

Union members have picketed several of Governor Patrick's recent appearances with this message. The governor has to date not yet authorized the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees or the Board of Higher Education to make a salary offer to the more than 12,000 unionized workers who are currently working without contracts.

Shauna Manning, president of the Classified Staff Union at UMass Boston, commented, "We are losing competent staff members to other colleges in Boston because our wages have decreased every year since 2000. Our members aren't making enough to pay their basic bills." Max Page, president of the Massachusetts Society of Professors at UMass Amherst, was pleased about the announced raises. "The administration must recognize that if they give a cost of living increase to administrators, they can't offer hard-working staff and faculty any less. The campuses don't need the chaos of starting the semester without contracts in place, and we see this as the basis of a fair settlement."