All-Union Town Hall Feb 18, a Demand for Leadership, Violation of Rights to Collective Action and National Day of Action Feb 19
2/13/2025
Dear Members,
We were shocked to see the Chancellor’s “Welcome Back, Beacons” message that was sent on January 30, 2025 that lacked any words of support or acknowledgment of the unprecedented threats we face. At UMass Boston, we have a history of protecting our community. As the federal government continues to create chaos, uncertainty, anxiety and despair, we are demanding that our leadership communicate and uphold university policies that protect the rights and safety of all students, staff, librarians, and faculty, including individuals of any national origin, religion, legal status, gender identity, sexual identity, and political beliefs.
We call you to an All-Union Town Hall on Tuesday February 18 at 12 noon on Campus Center 2nd Floor in UDC and on Zoom (contact FSU or Caroline Coscia for Zoom information). We have expressed our grave concerns to the Chancellor, the Provost and their teams and asked them to join us (see the full text of that email here). We will discuss the threats to our anti-racist mission, immigrant and international community members, to federal funding, and more.
When we fight, we win. The Department of Labor has found probably cause that the new campus Space Use policy violates our rights of organization and collective action. The case will proceed to a full investigation with the potential to set a precedent in Massachusetts labor law and the rights of protest on university campuses (see here for more).
Join colleagues for a Higher Ed National Day of Action on February 19 at 3 pm at the JFK Federal Building Boston. Members from FSU, CSU, GEO and PSU will meet at Campus Center entrance at 2 pm to travel together.
See you on Tuesday!
Sincerely,
Caroline Coscia Sana Haroon
Senior Lecturer II Professor
Political Science Department History Department
President Vice President