Contract Ratification Vote Results
7/11/2023
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the results of the contract ratification vote.
There were 289 votes cast. 288 votes in favor of ratification. 1 vote opposed.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the process – especially to the Contract Action Team whose enthusiasm and commitment helped secure expanded bargaining and raises higher than any time in recent memory, to those who attended the July 6th info session, and of course to everyone who voted. This is a resounding victory for faculty and librarians.
What happens next? (Aka, when do I get my raise?)
Last evening, we informed Marie Bowen, Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and Mickey Gallagher, UMB Labor Relations, that the contract was ratified. Next, they inform the UMass President’s Office, which submits the information to the Governor’s Office for inclusion in a funding request. We have been told that the contract funding request will go to the Governor’s Office this week.
The funding will be part of a supplemental budget request the Governor submits to the State Legislature for a vote. MTA Government Relations lobbies and monitors this process and has been hearing that a supplemental budget could be submitted to the legislature in a few weeks. After it is passed and signed into law, the raises should show up in our paychecks a few weeks later.
So, bottom line is we are hopeful the new pay rates will take effect at the start of the academic year. They will include the first 4% pay raise, along with the additional increase to librarian pay, increase to the associate lecturer pay rate, and retroactive pay for summer classes. The second 4% raise will take effect in January 2024.
FSU will let you know as soon as we have concrete details about the timeline.
Anti-Racism Grant Funds
The new contract includes an increase the funding by $20,000 for a total of $45,000 (see Article 26.6.1b.2 of the 20-23 contract for more information).
The April 24, 2023, issue of Nuts & Bolts provides an explanation of the grant program and why the delay in announcing the application deadline.
In early September, we will be sending a formal program announcement along with application details. The application deadline will be no less than five weeks from the announcement date.
Sincerely,
Core Bargaining Team
Caroline Coscia, Political Science, Senior Lecturer II
Katie D’Urso, MTA Field Representative
Ellen Frank, Economics Department, Senior Lecturer
Jessica Holden, Healey Library, Librarian III
Lorenzo Nencioli, FSU Senior Staff Member
Jason Rodriquez, Sociology Department, Associate Professor
Brian White, Biology Department, Associate Professor