Layoffs, Associate Lecturers, and other news from the FSU

11/17/17

Dear Colleagues, 

Some important updates here. 

►  Layoffs:  As you all know, the university has implemented staff layoffs (see Boston Globe article on the layoffs here). Many long-time employees have been laid off who help students. The Professional Staff and Classified Staff Unions will be protesting these on Wednesday, November 29, 8:15 to 9:45 am, at 1 Beacon Street, Boston, at the Board of Trustees Administration and Finance meeting. 

► Workload Increase? If you believe your workload will increase because of the recent layoffs, this is what you can do:

1. Write to your Dean and Chair delineating the work that this person did and ask who will do these tasks now; specify each task. 

2. If you are forced to take on the additional work in order to keep a program afloat or insure proper care of students, and if that workload shift results in an overall increase in the average workload of your department, you may file a grievance.

To this end, keep track of the work you are doing over the months following the departure of support staff in a document as well as consequences to the department, program, or students were you not to perform these tasks. 

► Budget cut relief for UMB:  Unfortunately, Amendment #82 of House 4018 (the capital bond bill) that would have transferred debt related to UMass Boston infrastructure to the state, did not pass.  We are seeking to move a similar amendment in the State Senate in January.  We will let you know how to support that effort.   

Background:  The state has never fully funded the cost of rebuilding the substructure, moving the utilities corridor, and the cost of new buildings, all needed because of faulty construction of UMB in the 1970s.  This has led to our campus having to pay for these and contributing greatly to the budget deficit.  See https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/04/22/crumbling-garage-top-challenge-umass/T50v46u2xljEJYqpR2WdHN/story.html

►Associate Lecturers misused? The FSU is comprising an ad hoc committee to examine whether non-tenure track faculty are inappropriately being classified as Associate Lecturers.  According to the contract, faculty can be appointed as Associate Lecturers only if they are covering a temporary gap or to teach temporary or highly specialized courses; it's not meant to be used for longer-term appointments.  Since Associate Lecturers have far fewer rights than other job titles, we want to ensure that the use of this title is not misused.  If you are interested in participating, contact the FSU.

►The FSU is looking to hire a part-time Administrative Assistant (see attached job description for details). If you know of any pro-union, enthusiastic people looking for part-time work tell them to contact the FSU. 

► The FSU office will be closed from the close of today until Tuesday, December 5. Please be patient while staff is out of town. 

The union is only as strong as members are involved.  Let us know if you want to be involved in the union, serve on our membership drive, a committee, or help with any of these issues. If you have not yet joined as a full member we urge you to do so now! (contact the FSU office for membership materials).

Marlene Kim

FSU President

Professor, Economics

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