Protest staff layoffs tomorrow and other news from the FSU

11/13/17

Dear Colleague:

Our staff can use your help, and so can the FSU.  See below:

►The Professional and Classified Unions on campus are protesting the layoffs that are soon to be announced at their STAND UP Against Layoffs! demonstration  Tomorrow, Tuesday Nov 14 at 12 noon, Quinn, 2^nd floor lobby.  Please RSVP if you can attend here:  RSVP!

►If you have not yet done so, please call Governor Baker's office to ask for a fair cost-of-living increase for all state employees. 

CALL TODAY:  (413) 784-1200 and/or (617) 725-4005

Our message is:

·  All of the UMass unions, as well as the unions representing state employees, are working together and we need answers now.

·  The state economy is booming, unemployment rates are at record lows, and the stock market is way up -- the people doing the work should share in the rewards. 

·  We are not asking for a lot, only that our raises match the state's own analysis of the cost of living in Massachusetts.

Please call  (413) 784-1200 and/or (617) 725-4005.  We want to flood their offices with calls.  

If you have not yet signed the online petition to Governor Baker, please sign it here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyIr44b7xKMYCDD3hexQ2Bs1pJUiLBRJHmEZ3jPLJzNRWToA/viewform?usp=sf_link.



For more information you can read press coverage here:

https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2017/10/19/heading-into-re-election-campaign-baker-faces-raft.html.

BACKGROUND:  The verbal offer we received was the following:

• 1% in January 2018, with an extra 1% in August 2018 if the state meets revenue targets of $27 billion. 
• 2% in January 2019
• 2% in January 2020

This low salary offer is in part because Governor Baker has issued such a low economic parameters (an outline of what the universities can offer to their campuses) to higher education employees, even lower than what other state employees are receiving.  We are working with unions across the state to increase this offer.  Sign the petition and call his office TODAY. 

In addition, the Administration wants to negotiate parking fee increases.  We have yet to receive their offer.  For a full update on bargaining, click here. 

►If you have yet to turn in your petitions collecting signatures for paid family leave and increasing the minimum wage to $15/hour in Massachusetts, please turn these in today.  Thanks for your help!

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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