Nuts & Bolts: FSU Success, PSU Layoffs, MTA Success, Know your contract, Red Cards, NEA AI tools and MTA Benefits

9/8/2025

FSU Calendar September 8th to 12th

Monday, September 8th FSU Executive Committee 3:30PM to 5:00PM

Executive Committee meetings are open to all members in good standing. The meetings tend to be a mix of routine, keep-the-trains-running, agenda items along with more substantive discussion about the larger issues facing faculty and librarians.  At today’s meeting we will be discussing FSU committees and offices, upcoming FSU events, a solidarity action for PSU layoffs, and more.

Wednesday, September 10th UDC Pizza and Cookies 11:30AM to 1:00PM

Stop by UDC for some pizza, relax, chat with colleagues and meet new colleagues. Pick up some FSU swag – stickers, buttons and t-shirts.

Wednesday, September 17th All Union Meeting on Transportation Bargaining 12:30PM to 1:30PM

Watch for an email with details including a registration link (to make sure we have enough pizza).  Includes a zoom option.

Dear Faculty and Librarians,

We hope your first week of classes went well and to our Monday night faculty enjoy your first class this evening.   

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. The National Council for Mental Wellbeing website contains information and resources.  Monday, September 8th is also 988 day to raise awareness of the 988 Suicide and Crisis hotline.  

FSU Successes….. Won an Appeal at the Mass. Department of Labor Relations (DLR)

FSU has won an appeal in a case in which two Africana Studies faculty members were disciplined in 2023 for spurious reasons. The Union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations (DLR) alleging that the disciplinary letters were issued by the University to the faculty members in retaliation for their union and legally protected concerted activity. The DLR dismissed the charge filed by FSU and we appealed. The Appeal Board of the Department of Labor Relations granted the Union’s appeal. The Board stated that they “agree with the Union that there is probable cause to believe that Notices of Discipline issued against the faculty were unlawfully motivated.” The next step in this case is that the DLR will hold a full hearing to determine whether the discipline was unlawful. That hearing is scheduled for May 2026.

While this is not a final victory in this case, it is a crucial step to overturning the unfair disciplinary actions taken against the two faculty members.

PSU Layoffs:  Student Success Programs

We have been informed that eleven members of the PSU who work in student success programs have received layoff notices. Why?  Federal funding cuts.  Many of these individuals work directly with students in advising and academic support with a focus on retention.  In August when we heard about possible funding cuts, we reached out to the provost expressing strong support for these programs and asked that funding these programs be a priority.

We will share information as we learn more details.

MTA Successes…. $200 Million Fair Share Funds to save campus research  

MTA and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Massachusetts joined together to push Governor Healey to propose funding to cover public higher education federal research funding cuts.

Join a webinar on September 11 at 7:30 pm that will feature a discussion of our successful effort to use Fair Share funds to save jobs and research on our campuses.  It will also have activists in higher education from other states share what they are doing to protect higher education in the face of federal cuts.  Register here: https://tinyurl.com/2agnq5my  

Know Your Contract: 2024-2027 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

Our new contract is posted on our website.  Over the semester we will highlight some of what we won.

Across the Board raises are scheduled (Article 26.1.1) throughout the life of this contract. Here is a table with the schedule.  (Note: December 2024 and June 2025 are retroactive payments)

FSU has Red Cards

All people regardless of immigration status have rights and are protected under the US Constitution.  Red cards are wallet size cards providing language to assist a person if dealing with an immigration agent.  The FSU has cards in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese and Portuguese.

Contact us to coordinate distribution.  There will be red cards at the Sept 10th UDC Pizza gathering.

NEA Artificial Intelligence in Education Resource Hub 

The National Education Association launched a new AI in Education Resource Hub where members can access guidance, tools, and professional learning opportunities on AI. The resource hub can be accessed at: www.nea.org/AI and includes: the NEA Task Force Report and Policy Statement on AI in Education; Professional Learning Opportunities; School and Classroom Guidance on AI; Policy Resources; and a comprehensive toolkit from our partners at TeachAI.   

Annual Faculty Review (AFR) is due on September 15th

Your AFR is due on Monday, September 15th. 

MTA Benefits: September Giveaway

A few times a year MTA Benefits raffles off a gift card.  This month’s giveaway is a $500 Visa Card.  Enter by September 15th and you could be one of two winners.

Sincerely,

Caroline Coscia                                 

FSU President                                   

Senior Lecturer II                               

Political Science Department