Welcome From the Faculty Staff Union
9/6/2022
Dear Members,
Happy new academic year! The next few days are exciting as we reconnect with colleagues, meet new colleagues, greet our students, and try to find our classrooms. Since last semester, the plaza has added new pavers, the quad is starting to take shape and parking Lot D is back open.
The Faculty Staff Union (FSU) is gearing up for a busy year.
This semester we will be sending you two weekly emails. Nuts & Bolts will focus on our contract, policies, and campus information. The Point will continue to examine the union movement, social justice, and trends in higher education.
Below are FSU activities including numerous ways for you to get involved.
Special election: The Executive Committee has an opening for a tenured member. Watch for details.
Bargaining: Yes, we recently ratified our 2020-2023 contract, yet we need to prepare to bargain our 2023-2026 contract. We expect bargaining will begin early 2023. Watch for information on how to apply to be a core bargaining team member. (Note: you need to be a union member to be a bargaining team member)
Parking Bargaining: We are joining in a coalition with the CSU, DCU and PSU to bargain over parking as the Bay Side lot will most likely not be fully available in Spring 2023.
FSU Forums: The FSU will also be holding or co-sponsoring several “Forums” throughout the semester on topics ranging from NTT promotions and balancing workloads with a healthy life.
Member General Meeting: Please mark your calendar for a member meeting on Wednesday, October 26th at 3PM.
FSU Executive Committee Meetings: The FSU Executive Committee meetings are open to all FSU members. Meetings are from 3:00PM to 4:30PM. We meet this semester on the following dates/times: September 14, 21st, 30th, October 19th, November 4th, 16th, December 2nd and 14th.
Reminder: Annual Faculty Reviews are due no later than September 19th. The Minimum Faculty Responsibilities has been updated so please review.
This is your union, and our ability to shape UMass Boston and public higher education policy depends on your participation. If you have not yet joined the FSU, we encourage you to do so (contact the FSU for membership information; we’ll also be following up with additional information for faculty members and librarians who have not yet joined).
Have a great semester and do not hesitate to contact us.
Caroline Coscia
FSU President
Senior Lecturer II
Political Science Department
For information on the FSU, links to our contract and bargaining updates, and a calendar of events, see the FSU webpage