Legislative Efforts

By Amy Todd, Assistant Editor, Union News, Anthropology

FALL 13

We tend to think of Massachusetts as a union-friendly state.  However, the introduction of House Bill 59, An Act Providing Retiree Healthcare Benefits Reform, is a sober reminder that we are not immune to legislative attacks on public sector workers. 

Interview with Gillian Mason, conducted by Jennifer Berkshire, newsletter editor

FALL 13

Tell us about Scholars for Social Justice—what does the group do?

Scholars for Social Justice is a group of academics who are invested in social justice and are interested in fighting corporatization both inside and outside of the university. We’ve currently got just over 300 members and they come from all over the state from Amherst to Boston. We try to amplify their voices and connect them to opportunities for activism on issues that matter most to them.

By Lorenzo Nencioli, Membership Coordinator, UMass Faculty Staff Union

SPRING 13

On Tuesday, March 5th, hundreds of students, faculty, and staff from around the state, including a large contingent from UMass Boston, gathered at the State House for the Public Higher Education Advocacy Day. Their goal was simple: tell their legislators to support Governor Patrick’s proposal to increase public higher education spending by $152 million in 2014.

By Jennifer Berkshire, FSU Newsletter Editor

SPRING 13