Proclamations are fine, but how about fulfilling some promises?

….like being a “champion of public higher education” as he promised us here at UMass just weeks after he was elected?

….not imposing a 2% pay cut on most higher education employees (including virtually all MSP members) by dramatically increasing the cost of health insurance?

….making a fair salary offer that at the very least equals the real cost of living increase last year in the northeast (3.8%)?

….making the offer by this, the first week in April, as we demanded, and dropping any threats of “no retroactive pay,” which was used last summer and was copied from Mitt Romney’s playbook?

We all have taken a pay cut over the past four years, as the alleged “cost of living increases” have not matched the real increase in the cost of living. Enough is enough.  None of us went into this business to get rich.  But it is simply not fair to ask faculty and librarians to take a pay cut.  Furthermore, our salaries are steadily moving further and further away from our national peers.  Accounting for the high cost of living in Massachusetts, our faculty and librarians make an average of 30% less than our peer institutions.  And with pay increases of 4-5%  a year at places like UConn and Rutgers, we are going to be less able to attract the best young faculty.

Our faculty and librarians are proud of the accomplishments of our students and graduates and the contributions they make to Massachusetts.  We simply want to be treated with respect.

Please call, fax, write or email Governor Patrick TODAY to let him know that actions speak louder than words.  Contact the governor and let him know the following (preferably in your own words): 

“Governor Patrick:  How about issuing fewer proclamations and instead fulfill some more promises – like treating your faculty and staff fairly by providing fair salary offers now.  We helped elect you and we did so because we expected you to invest in public higher education and treat your employees with respect.

Call:             617–725–4005

                   888–870–7770, toll-free in Massachusetts

Fax:             617–727–9725 (fax the proclamation)

Write:          Governor Deval L. Patrick

Massachusetts State House

Office of the Governor

Room 360

Boston, MA  02133

Email:          Go to www.mass.gov; then click “contact us” at bottom of the page.  In the middle of the page, click the link to the “Governor’s contact form.