Mt. Ida purchase, FSU Annual Meeting on May 2, and other info
4/10/2018
Dear Colleague,
As usual, a lot is going on. Here is the latest:
► UMass Amherst purchasing Mt. Ida:
Many of us are upset about this, as it will compete directly with our programs and students and further erode our budget and academic mission. See articles here, here, and here on this issue.
We are working with others across the campus on this issue; in the meantime, this is what we know so far:
- UMass Amherst is using their funds for this purchase, not the UMass System. On the other hand, Amherst receives 3 times the budget that we get.
- There was no public comment on this purchase.
- The Board of Higher Education will be meeting on this on Tuesday, April 24 and May 1. We have yet to hear back on the specific role of this Board in this purchase and will keep you informed if we have any actions at these meetings.
- We hear that it is not a done deal.
We will keep you informed on what you can do and what we will be doing in coalition with others. Please let us know your concerns as well.
►Parking bargaining: Let us know If you are willing to give testimony in bargaining on how their proposed parking fee increase will impact you or your students. For those of you opposing the parking fee increase who have yet to do so, please sign and circulate this petition here: https://www.change.org/p/say-no-to-a-huge-parking-fee-increase-at-umass-boston.
► RES Funds: Yes, you will be receiving information about the amount of RES funds you can spend shortly.
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For FSU members in good standing--
The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) Annual meeting is Friday and Saturday, May 4-5, 2018, at the Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA. We will be electing the President and Vice-President of the MTA, and are looking to fill our slate of 16 delegates plus alternates. Voting for these positions will occur on Saturday, May 5. Let the FSU know if you want to be a delegate or alternate, should a delegate be unable to attend (see here for more information). The elected leaders of MTA make a difference, so we encourage you to participate.
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►Contact your legislators to win health care for adjuncts in state universities, community colleges, and all of the campuses of UMass. H 4153 , An Act Investing in public higher education, formerly H 639, would provide adjunct faculty who teach at least 2 (3 credit) courses in a semester or 4 courses in an academic year (summed across all campuses in which they work) the same eligibility to employer sponsored health insurance as other workers.
Contact your State Representative and State Senator (Click here to find your legislator) and ask them to support H 4153 An Act investing in public higher education. Ask your State Representative and State Senator to express their support for the bill with Committee on Health Care Financing Chair (Senator James Welch), Vice Chairs Rep. Jeffrey Roy and Sen Joseph Boncore, and the House Speaker and Senate President.
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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