For Immediate Release   2/24/09

For further information contact
Randall Phillis 

President, Massachusetts Society of Professors  

413-687-2883 

UMass Faculty Union Accepts Pay Freeze.

Tentative agreement was reached Friday, February 20, 2009, by the union of faculty and librarians at UMass–Amherst and UMass–Boston to a contract that includes a one year freeze in salaries.  

“Given the current state of the Massachusetts economy, we concluded that we must accept this pay freeze.  Though we understand the challenge this presents to many of the faculty and librarians who earn in an income below the median family income in the state, we took this action to prevent layoffs and program cuts on campus.  Our effort is intended to help UMass students afford their education and for UMass workers keep their jobs,” reported Randall Phillis, President of the Massachusetts Society of Professors.

“We hope that this effort will influence the UMass Board of Trustees to delay any student fee increases and instead to make full use of the federal money available in the State Stabilization Fund to fill existing operating budget gaps.” said Max Page, former president of the MSP. 

The finance committee of the UMass Board of Trustees voted Friday to recommend to the full board a $1,500 fee increase for students.  This vote was taken despite protests that the Federal money just approved by Congress in the American Recovery and Reinvestment act could restore funding to FY08 levels, and provide the operational funds needed to maintain all current programs at the University. 

“Even if the federal money is only available for two years, it still represents two years in which UMass families won’t have to scramble to cover extra payments.  The enactment of a premature fee increase when it may not yet be necessary stiffs the students and their families.” argued Dan Clawson, MSP vice president.

The tentative contract freezes salaries for the current year and provides very modest increases of 1.5% in FY10, and 3.5% in FY11 and FY12.  It also provides language that provides easier paths to retirement for senior faculty and facilitates the use of research opportunities for UMass scholars.

# # #