Nuts & Bolts: FSU Annual Meeting, RES funds, anti-racism events, and retirement forum recording
4/22/2024
Dear Members,
Today is Earth Day! The first earth day took place in 1970 and included activities across the country. Why April 22nd? Oddly, the date was selected because it was partway between spring break and final exams plus there is milder weather in April.
FSU Annual Meeting, April 23rd at 3pm
Our annual meeting is a day away! Please join to us hear what your union has been doing, the status of activities (bargaining, parking bargaining, and coalition work), and adopting a budget for the next year. The relevant documents are attached.
The Annual Meeting is open to FSU members in good standing only (contact FSU or Caroline Coscia for Zoom information and for documents related to the Annual Meeting- the proposedFY25 FSU budget, etc.).
Research and Educational Support (RES) Funds
Our contract (article 26.6.1) provides those at 50% or greater time to receive RES funds. There is a set pool of funds for RES. The pool size and the number of faculty eligible determines your actual dollar amount.
Eligible faculty were informed October 2023 (email from Thomas Miller) of your award amount, but you need to complete paperwork to receive the funds. Please do so.
We were asked if all the pool funds are requested and if not, what happens to the unused funds. The contract states any unused funds on June 1st are transferred to the Healey Library budget.
RES Fund Summary:
FY23: $64,723 spent: unspent balance went towards 1-time purchase of a NAACP Papers collection.
FY22: $58,845 spent: unspent balance went to library subscriptions.
FY21: $71,321 spent: unspent balance went to library subscriptions.
Anti-Racism Grant Recipient Events
Upcoming events of which the sponsors were awarded a 2023-2024 FSU Anti-Racism Grant.
Monday, April 22nd Teachers of Teachers in Higher Education: Why and How We Do and Do Not Navigate Realities Rooted in Racism. 4:00-5:30PM in CC3545
The attached flyer contains event information and zoom option.
Monday, April 29th Bargaining for the Common Good. 12:00-2:00PM, Alumni Lounge
The attached flyer contains event information and zoom option.
April 18th Social Security and State Retirement Forum- Access to recording
A big thank you to Marie Ardito, Massachusetts Retirees United, for a wonderful forum on how the penalty is imposed on your social security earnings if you also receive a government pension. Marie allowed us to record the session and make it available to you.
We will be determining (meaning I need assistance) the best way to make the zoom recording available. In the meantime, please reach out to me or the FSU office for access.
Repeal of Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO)
The April 18th forum came about because of the WEP and GPO. If you worked enough years under social security to be eligible for benefits and will receive a government pension, then you might not receive all your social security benefits. This went into effect under President Reagan. A repeal to stop the reduction is making its way through Congress. There are currently 318 House of Representative sponsors of HR82. This is more than the 218 votes needed for passage, yet the House leadership is not moving the bill forward.
Our national union, NEA is working to repeal this (https://www.nea.org/resource-library/about-gpo-and-wep) where you can learn more and click on a link to send an email to your member of Congress demanding the bill move for a vote.
MTA Benefits: 2024 MTA Disability Open Enrollment
Disability insurance pays a percentage of your salary so that if you become disabled and can't work, you can continue to receive an income. Short-term and long-term conditions are covered, so you choose whether to enroll in one or both plans. For more information go to https://myenrollmentschedule.com/mta
Sincerely,
Caroline Coscia
FSU President
Senior Lecturer II
Political Science Department
