Nuts & Bolts: Upcoming events, space use policy, retirement assistance, international faculty, and MTA benefits

11/4/2024

FSU Calendar November 4th to November 8th

Tuesday, November 5th 11:45- 1:30PM for Java with Joe

Stop by the University Dining Club for some coffee, tea, cookies and converse with Provost Joe Berger.  Joe will be joining to answer questions. 

Dear Members, 

We have finally made it to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. It is also known as election day.  Personally, I look forward to no more ads!  We might not know the results of many races until late Tuesday night or a few days later.  If you need an extra caffeine jolt to help stay awake Tuesday for the election returns, do come by the UDC for our coffee, tea, cookies 11:45 to 1:30

Space Use and Reservation Policy: Cease and Desist and Prohibited Practice Charge

On October 30th we issued a statement from your Executive Committee regarding the Space Use policy, and it’s use on community members who participated in the October 8th vigil.    

Prior to issuing the statement, we informed you that on September 10th we issued a cease-and-desist letter to the chancellor asserting that the policy needed to be bargained with each union.  A reply received from Labor Relations indicates their belief that the policy is not a subject of mandatory bargaining.  

We also filed a prohibited practice charge with the Massachusetts Department of Labor under 150E.   We believe that the policy has a ‘chilling effect’ on FSU members and infringes on our legal rights to concerted, protected activity.  Unions have a right to engage in concerted, protected activities (i.e. gather to protest or voice concerns) yet this policy has an impact that makes some members afraid (non-tenure, pre-tenured faculty) to participate in such union activities.   

The Department of Labor notified us that an investigative hearing on our charge is scheduled for January 21, 2025.   

Thinking of retirement?  Unsure of the process? What do I need to do?  

MTA retirement specialist Ed McCourt is here to help you navigate the retirement process from determining the best time to retire and including options on retiree health insurance.

Ed is holding individual virtual member sessions on November 7th, 12th and 20th.  You must book an appointment. The attached file contains details including how to book an appointment.

Save the Date: International Faculty Gathering, December 3rd 3:30 to 5:00PM

A meeting for international faculty to discuss issues of concern and forge solidarity. All with questions or concerns about immigration and labor rights are welcome.

Upcoming: NTT Promotion Workshop

We are finalizing the date and time of a workshop to assist those NTTs submitting promotion materials by January 26th.    Watch this space for details.

Union Solidarity: Classified Staff Union (CSU) and a Living Wage

Campus unions are in various stages of bargaining for our 2024-2027 collective bargaining agreements.  We are all in constant contact with each other regarding negotiations and proposals.  The CSU has been working hard to adjust their grade levels/steps and to increase their wages for each grade.   Many CSU members are unable to cover expenses (housing, food, commuting) on their UMB salary and must work a second job to be self-sufficient. 

Testimony from CSU members illustrating their low wages:  As part of the CSU and as a former undergrad and graduate student who earned my BS and master’s at UMass Boston, I am a loyal member of our campus community. Members of CSU are simply not earning a living wage to continue to live in the commonwealth. I am 36 years old, and I cannot truly afford my share of rent. Based on what I earn now as a full time Grade 14, I will not have the recommended amount in savings to live comfortably and account for emergency expenses by the time I turn 40. In addition, I will be the sole caretaker of my parents and their property, and I can barely afford to live on my own until retirement. I worry for my own financial security as well as my colleagues and I can’t imagine what it must be like to earn below a living wage, as we are doing now, and have more mouths to feed and maintain a roof overhead. The members of CSU are vital to the operations of this university, our loyalty to our careers at this campus is evident in our fight to stay but we need wages that reflect the present and future state of living in the commonwealth so that we can continue to work and contribute to the future of UMass Boston.  Thank you for listening.

I’ve worked at UMass close to 30 years in the trades here. When I came to UMass, I took a pay cut thinking the health benefits and my kid’s college tuition benefit would even it out. For most of the years I had to work a second job part time outside of UMass and did many various side jobs on my own to try to make ends meet. I’ve seen the price of everything increase except my pay. I see outside contractors coming onto campus every single day knowing they are getting the state mandated prevailing wage doing the exact same job as me and I’m getting less than half of what they are being paid. To me this is discrimination and makes me feel like a nobody and unappreciated. We are licensed tradesmen that still have to go back to school every few years to keep our state license up to date. We cannot hire people here. I have seen so many job prospects laugh at us and walk away from job offers here. One guy hours into his first shift here quit when he realized the amount of money is for every two weeks and not one week. This university is only hurting themselves by not paying the ones they should be paying, the ones who would and go the extra mile always when needed.

MTA benefits: Automotive Care

Winter is coming.  Keeping your automobile in top shape is necessary for New England winters. Check out the car care discounts with your MTA membership.

Note: Nuts & Bolts is taking a hiatus next week in honor of Veterans Day, a federal holiday, on Monday, November 11th. 

Sincerely,

Caroline Coscia                                 

FSU President                                   

Senior Lecturer II                               

Political Science Department