UMass Amherst Labor Coalition

AFSCME Local 1776, Graduate Employee Organization (UAW), Massachusetts Society of Professors (MTA), Professional Staff

Union (MTA), University Staff Association (MTA)

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          January 8, 2009

Contact: Randall Phillis (413-545-3494) or JoAnne Martone (413-545-1601)

UMASS UNIONS ARGUE FOR PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION

IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY BILL

            The UMass Labor Coalition is working with U.S. Congressman John Olver to lay out the case for a major investment in public higher education as a key step in overcoming the economic crisis.  Representative Olver, who is Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, met with labor leaders on January 2 at UMass Amherst.  He urged them to produce a concise statement of the issues (see attached), and promised to bring the arguments to the attention of Representative David Obey, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, who will be central to the passage of an economic recovery bill.

             “We made the case to Representative Olver that public higher education was the key not only to the immediate economic crisis but also the long-term rebuilding of our economic vitality,” said Randall Phillis, incoming president of the Massachusetts Society of Professors, the faculty and librarian union at UMass Amherst.

            As reported in yesterday’s Boston Globe, Senator Edward Kennedy is also urging that education be part of the stimulus package.  “We are pleased that our Congressional representatives recognize that providing the resources to meet the increased demand for public higher education during a time of economic contraction makes good sense both short-term and long-term,” said Donna Johnson, President of the University Staff Association.  “We hope our Governor and state legislators have the same understanding.”

            The Union leaders who met with Rep. Olver pointed out that applications to UMass Amherst, for example, are up 29% this year, and that the University is key to the regional economy.  “If a large amount of money does not come to Massachusetts via the proposed Economic Stimulus package, the effect will be devastating upon our local economy and to the University, its workforce, and its students,” said Francis Martin, President of AFSCME Local 1776.

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To:       Representative John Olver

From:  UMass Amherst Labor Coalition (AFSCME Local 1776, Massachusetts Society of Professors/MTA,
           University Staff Association/MTA, Professional Staff Union/MTA, Graduate Employee Organization/UAW)

RE:       Education and the Recovery

Date:     January 6, 2009 

As we discussed on Friday, we believe that any economic recovery package should include a sizeable education component.  While we support a multi-faceted recovery program -- funds for infrastructure, green energy, health care, expansion of unemployment benefits, and targeted tax cuts -- we are convinced that aid to schools and improving access to higher education is an integral part of such a program.  It is consistent with President-elect Obama’s stated goals: short-term stimulus and smart long-term economic development.  America’s educators and the workers who support education are “shovel ready”. 

A few important points:

1. Invest in Education. Investing in education at all levels, pre-K to post-graduate, is the key to short and long term recovery.  At a time when so many people are losing their jobs and high school graduates find few awaiting them, there is a high demand for education.  For example, applications for early admission to UMass Amherst are up 29 percent over last year[1], as are applications to public colleges and universities nationwide.

2.The Education Multiplier. Investing in public higher education has a greater multiplier effect, generating more economic activity than most other investments.  For example, $1 in direct investment in UMass generates more than $8 in economic activity.[2]  These investments need not and should not be limited to building projects.  At least as important are additional funds for financial aid and campus operating budgets to ensure a high quality, affordable education for all. 

3. Education is the competitive edge.  Part of our country’s competitive edge has historically come from a strong infrastructure for scientific research, great universities, and a well-educated workforce.  Michael Porter, the competitiveness guru at Harvard Business School, wrote in the Oct. 30 issue of Business Week that these advantages are starting to erode. He urges the Obama administration to not spread the spending around too thinly, to send a large amount to the states, and to make sure much of it goes to state universities.[3]

4. The Folly of Layoffs.  Laying off teachers and support staff (as is already happening), limits educational opportunity just at a time when there is increased demand from students.  There will be an increased need for the trained workers necessary for a successful transition to a new, greener economy that will be dependent on the skills of professionals in higher education.  We are very supportive of increased funding for Pell grants, but we need to have the staff and faculty to work with the resulting larger number of students.  We need to stop layoffs and begin hiring the faculty and staff to provide the kinds of innovative educational experiences that will drive a new, innovative economy. 

5. Lagging in Education. Our country lags behind other countries in terms of training a highly educated workforce.  In the proportion of the population aged 25 to 34 with a college degree, the United States matches France but trails Japan, Canada and Russia.  A smaller proportion of the “first university degrees” awarded in the United States in 2004 (17 percent) were in science, mathematics and engineering related fields than was true than in any of the other G-8 countries.[4]  We need millions and millions of college graduates in the coming decade if we are to compete with other countries.  This is the exact moment to invest in public higher education.

6. Remain flexible. The recovery effort needs to be flexible enough to maintain teachers and support staff as part of the shovel ready economic recovery package. Infrastructure and machines are necessary for education but without flexibility we run the risk of losing the experienced educators necessary to run our educational institutions.  There is little value in building fancy facilities if there is no one left behind to run them.

Education is key to the recovery short-term and long-term, locally, statewide, and nationally.  This is the time to invest in education.  This is our future.  We know you share this perspective and are hopeful you can be influential with your colleagues in the days and weeks to come.