UMB Unions Call For Pay For All Workers

3/20/20

Dear Colleagues,

We want to let you know that the FSU Executive Committee has signed the following letter sent to Chancellor Newman and President Meehan regarding  student employment.

From the FSU Executive Committee

Dear Interim Chancellor Newman and President Meehan,

It has come to our attention that an email was sent out by Tom Miller seeking estimates of cost savings, including possible savings from student employee pay.  This is both unconscionable and irresponsible.

As you both know well, our students depend on their jobs at UMass Boston for daily subsistence--for their food, rent, medical care, internet and other utility bills. In the midst of this emergency, it is simply cruel to even contemplate cutting student pay.

We are already seeing this pandemic turn into an economic crisis.  According to a webinar conducted by the Economic Policy Institute yesterday, unemployment insurance claims are up 30% in just the past week as the most vulnerable workers begin to lose their jobs.  A public institution like UMass should be ensuring that we do not add to those numbers.  We should seek savings where we can--through cancelled travel and events, and even through saved office supplies--but we should guarantee that every worker who depends on us for their livelihood will continue to be paid.  To do less would irresponsibly shift the burden onto other public funds which are needed for workers in businesses and industries that are failing.  The University of Massachusetts is far from failing.

We call on you both to issue directives to all campuses, departments, chairs and directors to continue the employment of all UMass workers, be they undergraduate or graduate students, or part-time or full-time staff or faculty, regardless of employment category or status.

We look forward to a response.

We hope you and your families stay safe, and that you act to keep us all safe,

Anneta Argyres, Professional Staff Union President

Sarah Bartlett, Professional Staff Union Vice-President

Rafael Jean, Department Chairs Union President

Ann Gakumo, Department Chairs Union Vice-President

Rachel Rubin, Department Chairs Union, Bargaining Team Committee Chair

Panagiota Gounari, Department Chairs Union

Warren Hinckle, Graduate Employee Organization

Chris Whynacht, Graduate Employee Organization

Janelle Quarles, Classified Staff Union President

Thomas McClennan II, Professional Staff Union Chapter Board

Peter Tattlebaum, Professional Staff Union Chapter Board

Faculty Staff Union Executive Committee

Faculty Staff Union Core Bargaining Team