Present: Ash, Barker, Brewer, Brigham, Domier, Levine, McGinty, Misra, Phillis, Schmalzer, Smethurst

Staff: Gallagher, Reardon, Wulkan

Absent: Adams (on leave), Banach, Brandt, Danai, Gross, Luce, McDermott, Paynter, Phillips,

1.         Approval of Minutes of March 24, 2010

            Approved unanimously

2.         Updates

            MSP is involved in several bargaining efforts, including:

a) Commonwealth College reorganization in which lecturers will be laid off as courses are moved into departments and taught by tenure system faculty.

b) Legal Studies merger with Political Science where we are engaging in impact bargaining.

c)  Continuous employment for lecturers: we initiated a discussion with the administration about doing away with individual contracts once people have just cause protections.  We have proposed language from the administration which we will be discussing at an open meeting for lecturers.  We hope to eliminate the situation where lecturers receive layoff notices each time they get a new contract.

3.         MSP Budget

            A budget for FY 2011being proposed by the officers was presented.  The major changes include:

• No MSP dues increase
• A reconfiguring of support for PHENOM
• Possible refurbishing of the MSP office
• More funds allocated for pending arbitration cases
• A new MSP Member grants program

It is a deficit budget that can be funded out of reserves

After discussion, the budget as presented was approved to be recommended to the membership.  The vote was 9 YES, 1 NO, 1 ABSTENTION

            MSP is soliciting involvement by members on a grant review committee.

4.         Contract Funding Campaign

            We have had a number of in-district meetings with legislators.  The one remaining one is this April 9 with Ellen Story.  The general reaction from legislators has been supportive, but “times are touch”.  Concessionary contracts have been released by the House Ways and Means Committee and are heading to the floor of the House.

            Two upcoming events where we hope to rally support for contract funding:

            a) Hampshire Franklin Labor Council Legislative Breakfast 4/9 (Sigrid will attend)

            b) Deval Patrick Campaign Kickoff 4/10 (John, Steve B. and maybe Randy will attend)

5.         Gubernatorial Election

            The Campus Labor Coalition met with Grace Ross who is running as a labor-friendly Democrat. 

            The MTA’s Candidate Recommendation Committee has been persuaded by higher ed members to withhold any endorsement at least for the time being.  The Board is asking Phil Chassler, committee member from UMass Boston, to keep the Board informed in writing.

            There was discussion about possibly hosting a forum for all candidates on campus.  With regard to the Patrick campaign, there was discussion about the relative merits of an “insider” (be tough but behind closed doors) and an “outsider” (pressure him publicly) strategy.

6.         Revenue Campaign

            A coalition called together by One Massachusetts has endorsed a program of revenue increases to better fund state services.  It is similar to the program endorsed by the MTA.  It includes restoring the tax on unearned income to 12%, ending certain unnecessary tax exemptions, and eliminating the sales tax exemption on soda and candy.  Max Page was at the meeting and urged MSP to endorse the program.  MSP voted to endorse:   7 YES, 1 NO, 1 ABSTENTION