Higher Education Unions United for Fair Contracts

               Massachusetts State College Association/MTA (9 State Colleges)

                    University Staff Association/MTA (UMass Amherst)

                        Massachusetts Society of Professors/MTA (UMass Amherst)

                             Professional Staff Union/MTA (UMass Amherst and UMass Boston)

                                 Graduate Employee Organization/Local 2322/UAW (UMass Amherst)

                                      Classified Staff Union/MTA (UMass Boston)

                                            Association of Professional Administrators/MTA (9 State Colleges)

                                                  Faculty Federation/Local 1895/AFT (UMass Dartmouth)

                                                       Educational Services Unit, Local 1895/AFT (UMass Dartmouth)

                                                             Faculty Staff Union/MTA (UMass Boston)

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Unions React After Administrators Get Raises

            The Department of Higher Education has authorized 4% (average) raises for non-unionized administrators at the state and community colleges for Fiscal Year 2009 (see attached).  This is approximately equal to last year’s increase in the cost of living in New England as determined by the Department of Labor. 

            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.”

For more information, please contact: Max Page (413-219-7633) or C J O’Donnell (508-420-9486) or Shauna Manning (617-287-6776).

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MEMORANDUM

TO:                 State and Community College Presidents

FROM:           Patricia Plummer, Chancellor

DATE:            June 6, 2008

            You are hereby authorized to establish a 4.00 percent merit pool for use in making salary adjustments for non-unit professional personnel on your campus during Fiscal Year 2009.

            While no minimum or maximum amount is prescribed, all salary adjustments are to be performance-based, and the total of such adjustment shall not exceed the funds available in the merit pool. Any salary adjustments that you authorize during the course of the upcoming year may be made effective the first fiscal day of Fiscal Year 2009 or retroactive to that date.

            I appreciate your concern for making salary adjustments available to non-unit employees and anticipate that this information will assist you in planning for the upcoming fiscal year.

            Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact me or Peter H. Tsaffaras of my staff.