THE BUDGET: State budgets are complicated; often the devil is in the details. Romney’s proposal is much better than in past years – a response to our contract campaign and to the improving economy – but nowhere near good enough. It provides an increase over last year, but not enough to fund the raises and stay even elsewhere. The budget is somewhere between $11 million and $27.8 million short of what would be needed to stay level; we want a budget that will begin to get us back to FY2001. Romney’s budget obviously won’t be the last word, and some of its non-budget proposals have the potential for serious harm (on health care, pensions). We and the MTA are still studying the complications and will produce a fuller report soon.

MSP SPRING PLANNING RETREAT: Friday, Feb. 20 from 12-3 pm

We had an incredibly successful fall campaign, but the fight is not over. We need our retroactive pay raises, we need a better budget for the University, and we need to begin bargaining.

If you are willing to spend time this semester helping the union organize and fight on these three fronts, please hit the reply button to confirm your participation in the spring planning retreat, which will be held in Campus Center, Room 101.

We will have groups focusing on:

keeping legislative pressure on for retro pay

lobbying for a better budget

improving MSP communication with members

providing research and support for bargaining team

Retirees and lecturers will also be able to meet in their own focus groups to address issues specific to them.

(Please direct further questions or comments about the retreat to clawson@sadri.umass.edu or jspencer@english.umass.edu

MSP ACTION ALERT! (2-24-04)

This spring the MSP will begin to bargain our next contract. We are beginning to prepare our bargaining proposals, and in order to create a survey we need your input.

Other than compensation, what are the most important issues facing faculty and librarians? What are the most pressing problems we should try to solve? What should we push for during negotiations? Please hit reply and send your response to msp@external.umass.edu by February 26th. We need your response as soon as possible.

Second, at noon on March 5, MSP Department Reps will meet for a working lunch in Campus Center, Room 804. Bargaining issues will be discussed, so it is important that your department is represented. An alternate or temporary replacement is welcome to fill in for departments whose rep is unable to attend (or for departments that have no rep at all).

RSVP to this office (hit reply) before February 25th if you plan to attend.

Thank you.

MSP ACTION ALERT! (3-23-04)

Dear Colleagues:

We just started enjoying the salary benefits of the last union contract, but next month we begin negotiating with the University for the next one. One of the most important ways you can communicate your concerns and priorities to the bargaining team is through our bargaining questionnaire. Please take time to tell us what you think.

The best way to complete the questionnaire is online, since that speeds things up by eliminating the need for data entry. In addition to the questions, we have provided space for your comments and suggestions. The questionnaire is available to you at:

http://www.massteacher.org/surveys/msp04.htm

If you prefer to use hard copy, we will have one in your mailbox shortly. For your convenience, the finished questionnaire can be folded in half, stapled, and returned to the printed address by campus mail. Obviously, respond to either the online or print version, but not to both. Based on earlier input (over 50 emails from faculty and librarians), we suspect certain areas will be particularly important for this round of bargaining. These include the number of tenure track faculty and librarians, working conditions and resources, family policies, and non-tenure track faculty issues. But we also need to know your views on a wide range of other issues that may come up in bargaining.

To be sure that your views are included in our initial proposals, you must return your survey NO LATER THAN MARCH 30 so that we can summarize and analyze the results.

We cannot win a good contract without your voice and participation. We look forward to hearing from you promptly and to reporting back survey results in April.

Sincerely,

Jenny Spencer

Dan Clawson

MSP Co-Presidents

MSP ACTION ALERT! (3-30-04)

LOBBY DAY - APRIL 14th

It's time for us once again to go to Boston to make the case for the university and for the retroactive money in our contracts (an issue that is of extra importance to retirees). If we want to get our retro money, the legislature needs to hear from us.

Two buses will be going to Boston on Wednesday April 14, leaving Haigis Mall at 8:30 a.m. and returning at 5:00 p.m. We want people to sign upcommunity. Please help us: recruit your colleagues and your students. If people intend to go, but prefer to drive, they should still let us know, so we can inform them when we've scheduled a State House area assembly point.

Please email (msp@external.umass.edu) or call (545-2206) the MSP office to sign up.

On Wednesday, April 7 at 3:30 p.m. in Hasbrouck 20, a lobbyist from the MTA will come to train people on how to be effective in visits to state legislators. That training will also be briefly reviewed on the buses.

We will be trying to schedule appointments with legislators, but if you have a personal contact with some member of the legislature, or with an aide, by all means let us know about it, and use it to schedule an appointment (between 11:30 and 2:30 on April 14).

MSP ACTION ALERT! (4-6-04)

1. THREE R's

Concerned about the Three R's (raises, retro, retirees)? This is the time to make our case to the legislature. Two buses will be going to Boston on Wednesday April 14, leaving at 8:30 a.m. and returning at 5:00 p.m. Please email (msp@external.umass.edu) or call (545-2206) the MSP to sign up, and talk your friends and colleagues into joining us as we go with students and other campus workers. (Sixty undergrads have already signed up.) Sign up soon, and sign up even if you plan to drive instead of taking the bus.

2. LEARNING TO LOBBY

If you or others would like to get trained in how to lobby, come to Hasbrouck 20 this Wednesday (April 7) at 3:30 when an MTA lobbyist will conduct a training and arm us with information and arguments for our April 14 trip.

3. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

According to the contract, on July 1, 2001 we were each supposed to get an amount equal to 2% of the pay of an average member, said money to be used for any professionally related expenditure. We are still fighting for that, but don't yet have any news to report.

MSP ACTION ALERT! (4-12-04)

We are writing to alert you to coming changes in our health care plans. Many of us are enrolled in health plans that will not be offered next year: Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, and Commonwealth PPO. We must choose new health care plans by May 14, OR THE STATE WILL CHOOSE FOR US.

Health care costs in this country are out of control; those with power are responding not by reforming health care, but by pushing the costs down to employees. In effect, these changes are pay cuts, and pay cuts that hit us not just this year but increasingly in the future.

On Tuesday April 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., in the Student Union Ballroom, the state's Group Insurance Commission (GIC, which controls our health care) is sponsoring a Health Care Fair where we can get information about our options for next year. Please keep in mind, however, that the GIC's definition of "quality" is not necessarily what you mean by the term; their definition is influenced by costs. For example, Mass General and Dana Farber Cancer Institute do not count as "quality" hospitals.

One improvement is optional life insurance. For the first time in 16 years, it will be possible to enroll, without proof of good health, for up to four times your salary.

All of us should have received the GIC's "Benefit Decision Guide for Employees" which gives an overview of options. You can also go to www.mass.gov/gic.

Note that under existing state law the MSP does NOT get to bargain health coverage (we must address it indirectly through legislation). Nor does the MSP have any inside information about hospital and provider coverage.

Good luck.

MSP ACTION ALERT! (4-20-04)

Three items: a talk, a budget update, and a call for delegates:

1. TALK:

David Kirp, author of Shakespeare, Einstein, and the Bottom Line : The Marketing of Higher Education, and one of the foremost advocates for public higher education, will meet with MSP members to discuss the future of higher education on Wednesday, April 21 at Noon in Campus Center 101. Lunch will be provided. His book is available at Food for Thought Books. If you want lunch, help our planning by replying to this message (but come even if you decide at the last minute).

2. BUDGET UPDATE:

The House released its FY05 budget proposal; it's not what we want, but it's a lot better than the three previous years.

The total allocation to UMass, if you include the pilot program of out-of-state tuition retention ($20.8 million) and our contract raises ($53. 6 million), actually increased $20.9 million or 5.3 percent over FY04.

Although Romney said our raises were a "one-time bonus", the House has a supplemental budget item to continue the raises.

Not only that, but the House leadership intends to fund the first portion of the retroactive money (covering July 1 to December 31 2003) late this spring, ahead of the schedule they had agreed to.

Romney's pension proposal is not included; we hope-think it's dead.

On the negative side, the base budget, not counting our salary increases, was cut about 2%, to $331 million.

3. CALL FOR DELEGATES

Dean Robinson and Isabel Espinal are trying to get more UMass MSP faculty and librarians to be delegates to the MTA meeting in Boston on May 21 and 22. This is a chance for us to continue to make our case with the very large union that we are affiliated with. It is a chance to network across the state with teachers. It is a chance to take action on getting this state to commit to public education at ALL levels. Please reply to msp@external.umass.edu or iespinal@library.umass.edu to express interest and get more details.

MSP ACTION ALERT! (4-27-04)

ALL FACULTY/LIBRARIAN MEETING!!

Please attend an important all-faculty and librarian meeting Thursday, April 29 in Campus Center 917. Here are reasons to do so:

To plan for the Democratic Party Issues Convention on campus May 8. This is a rare opportunity to meet, lobby, and influence legislators and prominent democrats from across the state in our own backyard.

To find out whether or not we are getting our Professional Development money.

To discuss bargaining survey results, strategies, and proposals.

To weigh in on the hiring of new staff in the wake of Mary Fletcher's departure.

To vote on next year's dues level, as well as MSP's proposed budget.

To hear how the legislative budget will impact our campus.

To nominate MSP leadership for next year.

To bring new problems, issues, and ideas to the attention of MSP.

To show your support for MSP's work over the past year.

To eat fruit and cookies (if you get there in time!)

Hope to see you there!

Jenny Spencer

Dan Clawson

MSP co-presidents

MSP ACTION ALERT! (5-3-04)

MSP wins PD money!

The MSP and its members just won another major victory (see below). But to keep the victories coming, we need to keep organizing and putting on pressure. This week we have a unique opportunity to do so.

MAKING OUR CASE

We don't have to go to Boston: "Boston" is coming to us. The Democratic State Issues Convention is this Saturday (May 8) on campus. Two thousand of the state's key movers-and-shakers will be on campus, and we want to be sure they are aware of our issues. PLEASE give one or two hours to make our case; our retro money might depend on it.

We're asking you to sign up for one or more of the following activities:

Attend opening Reception on Friday, May 7, 8-10pm, Top of the Campus (local legislators, town democrats, delegates, union members).

2) Attend Labor Breakfast, Saturday, May 8, 7-9am, 3rd floor of Mullins Center

(contact MSP for pass to this event).

3) Saturday, 10-10:30am, Guide delegates and legislators from Mullins to

Campus Center, pass out some information.

Two hours between 10-5: staff the MSP table, meet with delegates, and/or help give campus tours.

Please reply to this message to sign up, or for more info email Mark Brenner (brenner@peri.umass.edu), Jenny Spencer (jspencer@english.umass.edu), or Laetitia LaFollette (for campus tours; laelaf@art.umass.edu).

MONEY COMING TO MEMBERS

Last fall we won contract funding, bringing raises that averaged 15.96%. Recently, we won a commitment from Finneran that the first installment of retro money (covering July 1 to December 31, 2003) will be paid ahead of schedule (in June instead of July) through a supplemental funding appropriation.

Now we've won another piece of our contract funding: payment of the Professional Development money. In negotiations last Friday, MSP worked out a plan to get this money into faculty hands as quickly and with as few bureaucratic hassles as possible. By July 2, all faculty members and librarians currently in our unit will receive an additional, one-time payment of approximately $1700 in their paycheck. (The wording of the legislation excludes retirees and non-unit members from this money, but allows us to pay the money to newer faculty not originally covered by the contract). Although taxable, the lump sum means immediate access to the funds and more flexibility in spending it.

WEDNESDAY FORUM / THURSDAY VOTE

Two more important reminders for THIS WEEK: the third MSP Forum will be held Wednesday, May 5 at 4pm in Campus Center 101. Refreshments will be provided. Professor Robert P.Wolff will speak on "The False, the True, and the Real Justification of the Liberal Arts Education" and lead a discussion on the future of higher education and what we might do about it. Wolff is author of "The Ideal of the University," and other books on social and political philosophy, including the soon-to-be-published "Autobiography of an Ex-White Man." We look forward to this end-of-the-year event.

Thursday, May 6, is VOTING DAY. Please remember to stop by the MSP office between 9 and 5 to vote for next year's MSP officers and executive board members.

MSP ACTION ALERT! (5-10-04)

What could be more important than the decline in tenure-track faculty? What ideas can we come up with to reverse that decline, and restore our numbers? The MSP is organizing a brainstorming session on the topic for this Thursday, May 13, beginning at noon in Campus Center 162-175. We'll provide lunch, but to aid our planning, PLEASE reply to this message (now!) and let us know you are coming. Together we can generate ideas and consider possibilities.

For those who will soon be coming up for tenure, come to a workshop next Monday, May 17, beginning at noon, in Campus Center 904-908, to learn about the tenure process and to get ideas about preparing your case. We'll provide lunch, but please reply to let us know you'll be coming.

Finally, thanks to all who participated in our Democratic convention activities. More than 1500 delegates chose to wear stickers identifying themselves as "Proud Supporters of Public Higher Education," over 300 people attended panels on higher education, and these important political activists left campus aware of our problems and committed to advocating for the university.

MSP ACTION ALERT! (6-15-04)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This Friday's paycheck will bring us each a one-time extra payment, $1624.75 for Professional Development. This money was negotiated by the union, and we've fought for it all spring.

RETRO

We remain vigilant, but still expect that the first installment of our retroactive pay will be voted on by the legislature within a month, and that it will cover retirees as well as those on payroll (for the period July 1 to December 31, 2003). It will then take the administration a month or six weeks to actually pay out the money.

SUPPORT SPRINGFIELD K-12 TEACHERS

As part of a bailout of Springfield's financially troubled school system, the Romney administration proposed a bill and asked unanimous consent to pass it the same afternoon it was introduced. The MTA stopped that bill when it learned that it would have permitted the Romney administration to appoint a majority of the members of an oversight committee that would have the right to unilaterally break essentially all provisions of union contracts: raise how much teachers pay for health care, hire new teachers at lower salaries, change the pension system. Last fall when our contracts needed funding, K-12 teachers stepped up for us; we should support them now.

The MTA is asking all teachers to attend a rally before the Springfield School Committee meeting on Thursday, June 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Meline Kasparian Professional Development Center, 60 Alton Street, Springfield, MA 01109. Everyone will then proceed into the School Committee meeting at 7:00 p.m. You could also call your state representative and ask him or her to oppose Romney's bill stripping teachers of their rights. If this bill passes in Romney's proposed form, we can expect similar proposals for others, potentially including us at some point in the future.

MSP ACTION ALERT! (7-25-04)

Our retroactive pay for 2003 was supposed to have been voted by this time. It’s hung up in various legislative political machinations. There is every indication that legislative leaders’ commitment to funding the contracts remains in effect, but a gentle reminder might be in order.

The legislature MUST pass a supplemental appropriation to "close out the books" on the fiscal year 2004 budget (which ended June 30), but it has not yet done so. Our retro money is supposed to be in that supplemental budget, and we believe it will be. The reason for the delay in voting on the supplemental budget has nothing to do with our contracts; rather it is part of an effort to avoid a vote on Romney’s tax cut proposals.

It would be a good idea to call our legislators, THANK them for funding the higher education contracts last fall, and urge them to make sure the legislature continues to honor its commitment by funding the retroactive pay. (This is definitely not a time to be angry; it is a time for a gentle reminder.) It’s especially important to call if you live in the district of, or have a personal connection to, a non-Amherst legislator.

P.S. This installment of the retroactive pay, when voted, will cover the period July 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003. If you have retired it will not only provide a lump sum payment, but will increase your pension. We continue to be committed to winning retroactive pay for July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2003 and continue to think that will happen, although to make it a reality we may, at some point in the future, need to once again remind legislators.

MSP ACTION ALERT! (8-09-04)

Our retroactive pay has been delayed once again, and it may be a several month delay. We continue to be assured that the legislative leadership supports our pay, but other politics have interfered. Here's the story.

The retroactive pay was to be included in a supplementary budget to close out the last fiscal year (which ended June 30). All sorts of legislators, however, tried to add amendments to that supplementary budget. Most especially, it was felt that the Republicans would force a vote on Romney's tax cut proposal. Democrats, in an election year, did not want to vote against a tax cut. To avoid this, Speaker Finneran kept the supplementary budget from being debated or voted on. (We had previously been told some kind of supplementary budget was a near-certainty.)

The legislature's formal session is now over, and will not resume until January. An effort will be made to pass the supplementary budget, including our retroactive pay, before then, during the informal session. But during informal session the only way a bill can pass is by unanimous consent. Even if the bill passes, if the Governor vetoes the bill, no vote can be taken on over-riding that veto until formal sessions resume.

There is a non-trivial chance that our retro pay and the supplementary budget will receive unanimous approval and that Governor Romney will sign off (just as he did last November, despite grumbling). Conceivably that could happen in August; more likely the try would be made after the November elections. But if anything goes wrong we are facing a January 2005 vote. (And in all circumstances, it will take two months after legislative approval for the money to show up in our pockets.)

This time, unlike the first three years of the contract fight, the problem is not opposition to our retroactive pay. No organized group opposes us, and the Speaker and Senate President openly and publicly support us. The problem is that our retroactive pay is being held hostage to other political maneuvers. All of us in the MSP, both members and leaders, will continue to monitor the situation. Perhaps the state's politicians will do the right thing; perhaps we will need to mobilize once again to remind them of their own past promises and commitments.

MSP ACTION ALERT! (8-24-04)

This update covers two issues: what is (and is not) happening about our retroactive pay, and a petition about University Child Care.

RETRO PAY

The retroactive pay was to be included in a supplementary budget to close out the last fiscal year (which ended June 30). All sorts of legislators, however, tried to add amendments to that supplementary budget. Most especially, it was felt that the Republicans would force a vote on Romney’s tax cut proposal. Democrats, in an election year, did not want to vote against a tax cut. To avoid this, Speaker Finneran kept the supplementary budget from being debated or voted on. (We had previously been told some kind of supplementary budget was a near-certainty.)

The legislature’s formal session is now over, and will not resume until January. An effort will be made to pass the supplementary budget, including our retroactive pay, before then, during the informal session. But during informal session the only way a bill can pass is by unanimous consent. Even if the bill passes, if the Governor vetoes the bill, no vote can be taken on over-riding that veto until formal sessions resume.

There is a non-trivial chance that our retro pay and the supplementary budget will receive unanimous approval and that Governor Romney will sign off (just as he did last November, despite grumbling). Conceivably that could happen in the next month; more likely the try would be made after the November elections. But if anything goes wrong we are facing a January 2005 vote. (And in all circumstances, it will take two months after legislative approval for the money to show up in our pockets.)

This time, unlike the first three years of the contract fight, the problem is not opposition to our retroactive pay. No organized group opposes us, and the Speaker and Senate President openly and publicly support us. The problem is that we are only a pawn in their game, and our retroactive pay is being held hostage to other political maneuvers – which perhaps is emblematic for public higher education in this state. All of us in the MSP, both members and leaders, will continue to monitor the situation. Perhaps the state’s politicians will do the right thing; perhaps we will need to mobilize once again to remind them of their own past promises and commitments.

SAVING UNIVERSITY CHILD CARE

To add your name to the petition below, send a message to saveucc@yahoo.com

Once you do, your name will be added to the below petition that will be presented to Vice Chancellor Michael Gargano. We are hoping to show the administration that the University Child Care (UCC) program has widespread support, not only here on campus but across our community. So please feel free to forward this petition on to other friends and supporters and ask them to help save UCC by signing our petition.

UNIVERSITY CHILD CARE PETITION

We, the undersigned, believe that the University Child Care program provides a vital service to University faculty, staff and students as well as the entire community. We are dismayed by the repeated attempts by the University administration to undermine the UCC program. As last Spring’s semester was ending, Vice Chancellor Michael Gargano announced the closing of yet another classroom and targeted some of our most qualified teachers for layoff. At the same time the Vice Chancellor announced that he would be hand-picking a working committee to develop a long term plan for the program.

As of August 1st no committee has been set up. Given the long history of attempts to close or cut back the program and the lack of results following previously appointed campus child care committees, we have serious doubts that the best interests of the UCC program are being served.

Therefore we are calling upon the University to immediately set up a credible working committee to plan the future of the University Child Care program. A number of eminently qualified individuals have volunteered to serve on this working committee and we believe they should be appointed:

Nancy deProsse, Founding Member of Working Families Massachusetts

Lynn Hatch, UMass Economics Department Doctoral Candidate

Christine Lopes, Alumni, Field Director for the Early Education for All Campaign

Roy Rosenblatt, Amherst Child Services Coordinator

Nick Seamons, Owner Black Sheep Deli, President Promoting Downtown Amherst

Eve S Weinbaum, Professor UMass Labor Relations & Research Center

Each of these persons is willing to invest the time and effort to develop a real plan for the future of the program. We believe it would be short-sighted and unwise for the University to ignore their offer. Therefore we call upon Vice Chancellor Gargano to appoint these persons to an independent working committee and to pledge to implement the committee's final plan.

Signed,

[To add your name to the petition above, send a message to saveucc@yahoo.com]

MSP ACTION ALERT! (9-7-04)

This message covers two points: an MTA higher education candidate for the state retirement board, and an update on retro pay.

VOTING FOR STATE RETIREMENT BOARD

MSP members' and retirees' pension benefits are affected by decisions made by the State Retirement Board. While most of us rarely vote in elections to this or other state boards, we have an opportunity now to elect a faculty member who has been active in the MTA and around public higher education issues. Len Paolillo has been a state college professor for 32 years at the Mass. College of Liberal Arts in North Adams and is running for a seat on the State Retirement Board. He says he will be “an advocate for a system of wise investments, fair administration and proper funding and will work tirelessly to protect our hard-earned retirement benefits and increase our COLAs.”

The ballots were supposed to be mailed out on Sept.3 and must be returned by Oct. 4. Please don't discard you ballot. We hope you will consider voting for Prof. Paolillo.

This email is only being sent to MSP retirees, but please pass the information on to others you know who might be interested.

RETROACTIVE PAY

We still haven't received the first installment of our retroactive pay, and it may not happen until January. Retro pay covering the period from July 1 to December 31, 2003 was to be included in a supplementary budget that was supposed to be voted by July. Our retro pay is still supposed to be in the supplementary budget, but it's not clear when that budget will be voted on. We, like you, are nervous and unhappy, but we are told we will get our retro money and it will cover retirees as well as those still on the payroll. Obviously, if we hear anything to the contrary we will let you know immediately and we can mobilize.

MSP ACTION ALERT! (9-13-04)

The retroactive pay issue has been a roller coaster. On Thursday the legislature passed a supplemental budget including the first installment of our retroactive pay, covering the period July 1 to December 31, 2003.

Governor Romney now has ten days in which to sign or veto the legislation. If the governor vetoes the bill, the legislature can't vote on an over-ride until January.

The legislation specifies that the money is to be paid by November 19. It covers both active and retired members, and specifies that pensions shall be re-calculated for retired members. In case you get any messages to the contrary, you should know that for 24 hours it seemed the legislation might not cover retired members, and during that period some (other unions) put out messages to that effect. Here's what happened.

The MSP and the MTA have always been committed to winning retro pay for all our members, including retired members. We had been told the legislature would pass the first installment of our retroactive pay, including retired members, in a supplemental budget. That budget was repeatedly delayed for reasons having nothing to do with our contracts.

On Thursday the legislature finally passed the supplementary budget, and as promised our retroactive pay was included. But it seemed the language did not cover retired members. The MTA leadership, lawyers, and governmental affairs representatives had 20 hours of “what the heck are we to do” while securing a copy of the full bill and reading through it carefully. It turns out that in a so-called “outside section,” many many pages away from the main language, the bill fully and unequivocally specifies that the retroactive pay will be given to retired members and their pensions will be re-calculated. (If you want to see the full language, email msp@external.umass.edu and we'll send it to you.)

The legislature's vote is great news. We hope Governor Romney will also approve our raises. If he does not, the legislature is committed to over-riding his veto. We'll be delighted to win the first installment of our retroactive pay, whether that's in ten days or in January. And yes, we are already at work on winning retroactive pay for the first two years of the contract (July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2003).

MSP ACTION ALERT! (9-20-04)

Governor Romney has vetoed the first installment of our retroactive pay raises; worse, he let most of the rest of the supplemental appropriation go through, and singled us out. Senator Stan Rosenberg said it best: “This latest slap at public higher education is nothing short of an outrage.”

Supposedly we have a commitment from Speaker Finneran and other legislative leaders that in January the veto will be over-ridden. (The legislature can't do so until then because they are now in informal session, and it requires a formal session to over-ride.)

We can't wait until January. We need to begin, RIGHT NOW, to build our political capacity. If we want legislators to help us in January and beyond, we need to help them now. First and foremost, that means area legislators who have been our strong supporters. Second that means providing assistance in key races where Romney has targeted key legislators for defeat. And when we help them out, we need to be sure legislators know that the help is coming from UMass faculty and the faculty union, the MSP.

If you are willing to give an hour or two, sometime between now and November 2, PLEASE let the MSP office know (reply to this message or call 545-2206). We are beginning an effort to coordinate and make visible our efforts. That might mean holding a sign on election day, or stuffing envelopes, or dropping literature at people's doorsteps. Many of our members already do so; we'd like to be sure legislators know this support comes from UMass faculty.

Legally, no public employee can ask anyone to contribute money to political campaigns. We can contribute, but we can't ask others to do so. Our retired members, however, CAN ask people for contributions, and can direct those contributions in the ways that will have the most impact. If you'd like to know more, contact the MSP office (msp@external.umass.edu or 545-2206) to be put in touch with our retired members politics committee.

P.S. You recently received, or will soon receive, a ballot for the state retirement board. Even if (like most of us) you usually ignore that ballot, this time please vote for Leonard Paolillo, an MTA higher education member running for the board, who will work to promote our interests.

MSP ACTION ALERT! (9-27-04)

This message covers two items, both about politics: our sponsoring a debate between the two state senate candidates, Democrat Stan Rosenberg and Republican Jim Miller, and our preparing to make political endorsements.

DEBATE

On Tuesday October 5 at 7:00 p.m. in Thompson 104, the MSP and other campus unions are sponsoring a one hour debate between the two Senate candidates for our district: the incumbent, Democrat Stan Rosenberg, and his challenger, Republican Jim Miller. The debate will be moderated by UMass Journalism professor Ralph Whitehead. Questions will come from a panel of journalists: Bob Paquette of WFCR, Mary Carey of the Gazette, and Holly Angelo of the Republican. Please come, and invite your students, friends and family.

POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS

The MSP is preparing to make political endorsements in area legislative races, and perhaps as well in a handful of races elsewhere in the state for races that have been targeted as especially important to higher education.

If we make an endorsement in a race we intend to also put resources into the race, helping to mobilize members to hold signs or stuff envelopes; perhaps our retired members will also aid in raising funds, especially for the targeted races outside our area. This is especially important since legislators across the state often report that although they hear from higher education members on the issues that matter to us, our members are NOT visible in helping candidates at election time.

We have much we hope the legislature will do, beginning with honoring our contracts and paying us the money we are owed. Now is the time for us to step up to help candidates. (Please contact the MSP office [msp@external.umass.edu or 545-2206] if you would be willing to give an hour or two between now and the election. If you are already working for a candidate, please call the office to talk about how we can be sure that MSP and UMass faculty-librarians get recognized for this work.)

At its meeting on Wednesday October 6 (the day after the debate), the board will make decisions on endorsements. In the meantime we are collecting information about the candidates in these races, including their voting records (for incumbents) and their positions on issues (for challengers as well as incumbents).

Another extremely important source of information is the experiences of our own members. Our board members would like to hear from members: What are your experiences with the candidates for office, and do you think we should make endorsements in these races?

To register your views, please contact any of the members of the MSP board:

Dan Clawson, Sociology, Machmer Hall, 5-5974, clawson@sadri.umass.edu

Melissa Barringer, Management, SOM Building, 5-5628, mwb@mgmt.umass.edu

Jenny Spencer, English, Bartlett Hall, 5-5498, jspencer@english.umass.edu

Laetitia LaFollette, Art History, Bartlett Hall, 5-0634, laelaf@arthist.umass.edu

Randall Phillis, Biology, Morrill Science Center, 5-3494, rphillis@bio.umass.edu

Mark Brenner, Pol. Economy Res. Inst., Gordon Hall, 7-0241, brenner@econs.umass.edu

Max Page, Art History, Fine Arts Center, 5-6952, mpage@art.umass.edu

Allen Barker, Plant & Soil Sciences, Bowditch Hall, 5-4733, barker@pssci.umass.edu

David Mix Barrington, Computer Science, Comp. Science Bldg., 5-4329, barring@cs.umass.edu

Paula Chakravartty, Communication, Machmer Hall, 5-6346, pchakrav@comm.umass.edu

Ann Ferguson , Philosophy , Bartlett Hall, 5-5802, ferguson@philos.umass.edu

Ian Grosse, Mech. & Industrial Engineering, E Lab, 5-1350, grosse@ecs.umass.edu

Naka Ishii, Int. Sciences and Engr. Library, Morrill, 5-2674, nishii@library.umass.edu

Laura Jensen, Political Science, Thompson Hall, 5-6185, jensen@polsci.umass.edu

Sangeeta Kamat, EPRA, Hills South, 5-4586, skamat@educ.umass.edu

Christine King, Nursing, Arnold House, 5-5095, mcking@nursing.umass.edu

Sundar Krishnamurty, Mech & Industrial Engineering, E Lab, 5-0297, skrishna@ecs.umass.edu

Pamela Lawrence, Dean - SOM, SOM Building, 5-5580, lawrence@som.umass.edu

Stephanie Luce, Labor Rel. & Research Center, Draper Hall, 5-5907, sluce@econs.umass.edu

Thomas McCarthy, Polymer Science, Conte Res. Ctr., 7-1512, tmccarthy@polysci.umass.edu

Dean Robinson, Political Science, Thompson Hall, 5-2438, deanr@polsci.umass.edu

Christine Turner, Program Support, W.E.B. Dubois Library, 7-1026, cturner@library.umass.edu

MSP ACTION ALERT (10-15-04)

Subject: political action

This message covers three points, all related to politics: who MSP has endorsed, volunteering time for a local candidate for legislature, and action for the key legislative races around the state. If we want our retroactive pay, or good budgets for the university, we need to step up now and support our friends in the legislature.

MSP ENDORSEMENTS

After collecting information on all local legislative races, the MSP board voted to endorse the following candidates, all of whom have strongly supported us in our contract fight, are working to help us win our retroactive pay, and support strong budgets for the university:

Senator Stan Rosenberg

Representative Ellen Story

Representative Steve Kulik

Representative Peter Kocot

Representative John Scibak

Representative Chris Donelan

VOLUNTEERING TIME

We want to do more than offer a paper endorsement. Area legislators have told us specific ways we can help their campaigns, from holding signs at key intersections to putting signs on our lawns to phone banking. If you might be willing to contribute an hour or two between now and the election, please reply to this message.

KEY TARGETED RACES FOR LEGISLATURE

Governor Romney has raised unprecedented amounts of money, and recruited unusually strong candidates. His aim is to win seven more Senate seats, giving him a veto-proof Senate. If he does so, we'd probably never get our retroactive pay. For example, the chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Therese Murray, is facing a stiff challenge from a millionaire who moved from Cambridge to Falmouth to challenge her. (Ways and Means is the committee that controls our retroactive pay.) Although she is a strong candidate, in 2002 the district backed Romney by a wide margin.

Currently employed members can contribute money to races, but cannot ask for campaign contributions. Our retired members, however, can collect campaign contributions and pass them on to candidates in ways that maximize the impact of UMass faculty contributions. If you'd like to know more about this, please call or email a member of our Retired Member Political Action group:

George Cernada, 549-7815, gcernada@schoolph.umass.edu

Arlyn Diamond, 548-9576, adiamond@english.umass.edu

Jerome Mileur, 584-3416 jmileur@polsci.umass.edu

Charles Moran, 549-5767, cmoran@english.umass.edu

MSP ACTION ALERT (11-1-04)

1. VOTE TOMORROW, TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2

to support those local legislators who have supported us, our contracts, and the university:

Senator Stan Rosenberg

Representative Ellen Story

Representative Steve Kulik

Representative Peter Kocot

Representative John Scibak

Representative Chris Donelan

2. LONG TERM POLITICS

Whatever happens on Tuesday, in the state or the nation, we need to strengthen our ties to legislators around the state. Our retroactive pay, future pay raises, ability to replace the faculty and staff lost in the budget cuts, and the university's potential to offer quality, accessible education all depend on what legislators do.

That's why we are creating a committee to work year-round to build better relations with legislators. We want to let legislators know about the many accomplishments of the university and its faculty. Part of that is communicating general news; part of that is connecting one legislator with one faculty member. If a legislator wants to know how to lower health care costs, and someone on campus has done research on the topic, let's bring them together - and ditto for dozens of other topics.

Please be in touch with the MSP office if you know research or accomplishments that should be brought to the legislature's attention, or (better yet) if you might be willing to work on the committee that will try to make those connections and build positive long-term relations. Reply to this message, or call 545-2206.

MSP ACTION ALERT! (11-19-04)

MSP is planning a campaign highlighting the shortage of tenure-track faculty. We need your help!

Last spring our members stated that the most pressing issue for faculty at UMass is the precipitous decline in the number of tenure-track faculty. Instead of holding a rally or demonstration, we are planning a public hearing/press event:

Wednesday, December 1st

4 PM

Campus Center 904-08

Faculty and students will testify on the impact of faculty decline to a hearing board of prominent individuals: State Representative Ellen Story, Yale University Professor Michael Denning, and Student Government Association President Eduardo Bustamante.

The hearing should last no more than one hour. The media will be there and will be interested in hearing from a range of faculty, so we need a room full of people, at least some of whom can answer questions and talk to the press.

We need to act quickly to make this happen. PLEASE let the MSP office know, as soon as possible if you can help in any of the following ways:

____ I will provide a one page (or less) statement about the impact of the faculty shortage (see below)

____ I will get one or more students to provide testimony

____ I will make a commitment to be at the hearing on December 1st at 4:00

____ I will bring students and colleagues to the hearing

____ I would like ____ flyers to pass out to my classes, announcing the event to students.

For both faculty and students:

If you can testify about this issue, please send a one to two sentence preliminary email to MSP as soon as possible, indicating what you might write and/or talk about. Even the full testimony should be very short -- one page is plenty. Specific real-life stories make the best testimony.

Here are some examples of things that people might discuss:

Students have fewer courses to choose from, making it hard to graduate or complete their chosen major.

Classes are very large, creating problems for both faculty and students -fewer tenure-track faculty means

less research, which hurts the university's reputation and ability to recruit students.

Students get to know very few tenure-track faculty during their 4 years of college; there are not enough advisors

or mentors.

Fewer faculty have time to do service and outreach in the community --contingent faculty do much of the

teaching, but do not have academic freedom or job security.

It is also harder to recruit and retain faculty because of other cuts at the university -- library budgets, staff cuts,

childcare and other services.

Thank you! We look forward to hearing your stories, and to seeing you on Wednesday December 1st at 4:00 p.m. in Campus Center 904.

MSP ACTION ALERT (1-20-05)

Here's what's happening about our retroactive pay, and here's what we are doing about it. Please reply to this message if you are willing to participate in our February 10 actions.

We were supposed to get the first installment of our retroactive pay last July. The legislature passed it (late) but Romney vetoed it. Supposedly the legislature planned to pass it “first thing in January.”

The House, under new leadership, has not yet decided on committee chairs, so no action can be taken on our retroactive pay. We are repeatedly assured that there is no opposition, that when the bill comes up it will pass almost unanimously. But the date this is to happen keeps receding into the distance. (If the money is delayed a year, that has cost us something like a million dollars in interest foregone.)

On Thursday February 10 we will take a series of actions to remind the legislature of its commitment. Together with the other unions on campus, we will have a bus going to Boston. We hope as many as possible will go to the State House; that is definitely the most effective way to convey our message. If you can't go but would like to participate, let the MSP office know and we will give you the phone numbers and emails of key legislators.

Our message will be friendly but firm. We will also urge them, given the long delay, to pay us more than just the first installment of retroactive pay (that covering July 1 to December 31, 2003). The state claims to have a $700 million surplus because tax collections ran above projected levels. The real surplus is $700 million MINUS the money they owe us.

Please reply to this message if you are willing to participate in our February 10 actions to win the retroactive pay.

MSP ACTION ALERT (2-15-05)

If all goes well, we expect that today both the House and the Senate will pass a supplemental budget including funding for (a portion of) the retroactive pay we are owed. The expectation is that Governor Romney will again veto the bill, and that the legislature will then over-ride his veto. Gov. Romney has 10 days to act; we hope the legislature will over-ride soon after his veto. A reasonable guess, and it's only a guess, is that we'd actually see the money in our pay checks around the beginning of May.

This retroactive pay will cover the period July 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003. If you have been on the payroll since June 30, 2001 or before, you are owed an amount that on average will be 7 to 8 percent of your 2001 salary. We again had a scare about including retirees, again had to make extra efforts to get them included, and again were successful in doing so. We will be continuing our efforts to see that we are paid, as promised, the remaining portion of the retro money (covering July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2003; an amount that will average about 15% of 2001 salary).

Also tomorrow, at 2:00 p.m. in the State House, Rep. Ellen Story and Sen. Stan Rosenberg will be attending a press conference to release a report on the decline in the number of tenure-track faculty at UMass Amherst. As with our December forum, several faculty and students will be testifying about the consequences of that decline. We want to put this issue on the agenda for the legislature, the trustees, and our campus administration.

Assuming the retro passes, it would be a very good idea for people to send thank you notes to your representative and senator. Our area legislators have been leaders in the fight to make this happen. We tend to let them know when we are unhappy; it's important that we also thank them when the legislature comes through for us.

MSP ACTION ALERT (2-17-05)

Three points: membership meeting on contract bargaining, retro pay, report on events to push for hiring more faculty.

1. MEMBERSHIP MEETING: There will be a membership meeting and lunch on Thursday February 24 from 12-1 in Campus Center 165-69. The bargaining team will report on what has happened in contract negotiations. The situation is fluid, but it is at least possible that bargaining could be concluded in the next month or two. The team will report on our four main issues - salary, the decline in the number of tenure-track faculty, improved conditions for contract faculty, improved working conditions - plus several other issues. PLEASE RSVP if you are planning to attend so we can order the right number of lunches; hit reply to this message.

2. RETROACTIVE PAY, first installment, passed both the House and Senate (unanimously) and is now sitting on the Governor's desk. Amherst campus faculty and librarians will receive a total of $5.8 million from this first installment (that is, an average of four to five thousand dollars each for those who have been here since 2001). According to the bill, the money is to be paid to us within 30 days following the bill's final passage.

3. FACULTY SHORTAGE: Yesterday the MSP released its report on the faculty shortage at UMass. The 50+ page report contains facts and figures about the decline in the number of tenure-track faculty, and the rise in the number of contract faculty (a rise that is half the amount of the tenure-track decline). It also contains compelling testimony from students, faculty, and staff about the human meaning of the faculty shortage.

Rep. Ellen Story hosted an event yesterday at the State House in Boston. Seven legislators attended, including Sen. Stan Rosenberg, Sen. Rob O'Leary (the co-chair of the legislature's new Higher Education committee), Rep. Steve Kulik, and Rep. John Scibak. Half a dozen of our students, and several faculty, presented testimony about what the faculty shortage means in practice. The legislators were moved; the press was there and we are getting some good coverage. Earlier in the day we also presented copies of the report and talked about the issue to the Board of Trustees.

The report release, the State House hearing, and the Trustee presentation are all parts of what will be a continuing campaign. At the February 24 lunch we'll be talking about what to do next; if you have ideas or suggestions, let us know.

MSP ACTION ALERT (2-26-05)

FACULTY DECLINE

The MSP has been leading a campaign to increase the number of faculty, especially tenure-track faculty, at UMass Amherst. We've done so through a hearing, a 50+ page report, a presentation to the Board of Trustees and to legislators in the State House. We've had tons of television and press coverage, highlighted by the Boston Globe's front page article (Feb 22; write the MSP office if you'd like a copy). You can read or download the report at the MSP website: http://www.umass.edu/msp/id70.htm

Everyone tells us they agree, but we need concrete steps that will achieve results. We will be presenting the report to all members of the legislature, and to the Alumni board, but we are also asking people to sign the following petition.

Dear Chancellor Lombardi:

As faculty and librarians at UMass Amherst, we applaud your recent statement in the Boston Globe that our campus has a serious shortage of permanent faculty. You have said that for UMass Amherst to be competitive with our peer institutions we need to hire 200 to 300 faculty. The Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP) has also argued for this in our contract negotiations.

Since we share the goal of increasing the permanent faculty to at least 1100, we call on you to offer a specific plan to achieve that goal within the next three years.

If you agree, please reply to this message and ask that your name be added to the list of signators. But please also print out the petition and place it in your department's mail room. (Please get signatures to us by March 9; if in doubt, sign again; we'll eliminate duplicate signatures.)

RETRO VETO

As expected, Governor Romney has just vetoed the first installment of our retroactive pay. Legislative leaders have told us they are committed to over-riding that veto. (Unfortunately, we don't yet have a date for an over-ride, and Massachusetts law does not require a veto be taken up within a set time period.) The legislation provides that the money is to be paid out within 30 days of the bill's final passage.

Our primary message now should be to thank legislators for their continuing support, including their support for what we hope will be a speedy over-ride. Remember: The legislature has done, and will again do, the right thing. Thank them, don't blame them. But legislators DO need to hear from us. Please write to the legislator from your area, and if possible also to the legislative leadership. A list of the relevant legislators, and contact information for them, is at the MSP web site: http://www.umass.edu/msp/legaction.htm

MSP ACTION ALERT (3-9-05)

RETRO PASSES/ACT NOW ON FACULTY SHORTAGE

Thanks to continuing efforts by the union, today the legislature overrode Governor Romney's veto of the first installment of our retroactive pay. By informal calculation, we think that means the money should be in our April 8 paychecks, although that is not confirmed.

They said that our raises from the last contract would never happen. But we won and last year salaries jumped an average of 15.96 percent. They told us to forget about the professional development money that was in our contract. But we won and we all received $1624 in our paychecks in June. They said that getting our retroactive pay (going back to 2001) was a pipe dream. But we won, and now we will be getting on average of more than $4000 apiece, and retirees are included.

That's an update on our LAST contract. But we're in a struggle right now to win a good new contract. One of our central issues is the shortage of faculty on campus, especially of tenure-track faculty, and the need to restore faculty numbers. Our campaign on this has generated great publicity: a lead editorial in the Boston Globe, an editorial in the Springfield Republican, a Derrick Jackson column in the Globe, a front page article in the Globe, a mention in USA Today, a discussion in the Chronicle of Higher Education, and a host of other television and press coverage, all of it highly positive. To see a sample of these articles, go to the MSP website (www.umass.edu/msp).

The press coverage and the efforts of our bargaining team are important, but we need to do more. We have the momentum that makes it possible to win a significant advance on an issue that - like funding the old contract - people had told us was impossible. Your help right now can make a huge difference. Can you:

1. Sign our petition calling on Chancellor Lombardi to develop a plan to restore faculty numbers. Reply to this message to add your name. Indicate if you would also be willing to post the petition in your mailroom and/or circulate it to colleagues in your department.

2. Go to Boston next Tuesday or Wednesday to deliver copies of our 50 page report to all members of the legislature. The legislators who have seen the report urged us to give copies to all legislators, and insisted that in-person delivery is much more effective than sending it through the mail. We'll have carpools going in and will go around in small groups; please reply to this message if you might be able to join us.

MSP ACTION ALERT (4-13-05)

ADMINISTRATION ASKS FOR REAL PAY CUT

The MSP has been in contract negotiations for a year. The bargaining team is angry and so is the board. The administration is calling for a cut in our real pay. This message provides an update on bargaining; tomorrow we'll send a message laying out a plan of action, which will begin with activities on Thursday April 21.

Salary: The administration is offering 2 percent a year pay increases (less than the rate of inflation) with no professional development money and no increase in dental benefit contributions. At the same time, Governor Romney has proposed that we pay an extra $500 a year for health benefits.

In fact, the administration/Romney offer is less than 2 percent a year, because they want us to take no increase for the first nine months, and then begin the raises.

Some other unions have settled for 2 percent a year pay increases BUT those are unions that have step increases. With step increases, most employees move up a step each year, and receive a salary increase for moving up a step. In every past contract the administration has offered us an amount of money that is calculated to be the equivalent of step increases. Although we always fight over how much that is, usually it has been about 1.5 percent a year; that is, this year they would need to offer us 3.5 percent a year.

Tenure-track faculty shortage: We've received lots of verbal support for the importance of increasing faculty numbers, but there has been absolutely no willingness to make any contractual commitment. Years of experience make us skeptical of statements of good intentions.

Contract faculty: This is the area where we've made our greatest progress, including indications the administration will agree to regularizing and lengthening the terms of contracts and the creation of a senior lecturer position.

Other issues: On child care, the university refuses to even guarantee the University Child Care center will stay open; on building improvements they won't offer us a voice; for domestic partners, they want to take away benefits.

Although the administration knows the Romney-dictated salary offer is ridiculously inadequate, they have demonstrated no sense of urgency in efforts to get us a better offer. The university administration will go ask for a better package, but as best we can tell at this point they will not make it a priority, show any leadership, or expend any political capital on these issues. (Sound familiar from the retroactive pay campaign?)

Our bargaining strategy has been to play within the system and not to make waves. The administration has responded by not taking us seriously. In effect they've said that they only respond to pressure. If so, we are forced to resort to pressure tactics, beginning with activities on April 21, and continuing with further actions through commencement and beyond. Tomorrow we'll send a message about actions to take.

MSP ACTION ALERT (4-14-05)

Yesterday’s MSP message explained our frustrations with bargaining. This message lays out a plan of action and specific things to do.

Our first action centers around Thursday April 21 (a Monday in the university class schedule). Graduate and undergraduate students had already been planning a class boycott and teach-in. Because our negotiations are going nowhere, we are also taking action that day, adding our issues to theirs. The themes of the day are:

Support the Community Action Diversity Plan, not Chancellor Lombardi’s plan

Increase the number of faculty in classrooms and labs

No cuts in real wages or benefits

Student control of student organizations

Fair contracts for all campus unions

Here are specific things you can do connected with April 21:

1. Reply to this message to add your name to those pledged not to penalize students who boycott or walk out on

April 21st. (Sign the pledge even if you do not teach that day):

Undergraduate and graduate student employees, concerned about campus diversity and about cuts in real wages, have called for a day of action – a class boycott for undergraduates and concerted action for graduate students – on Thursday April 21 (a Monday in the university class schedule). I pledge not to penalize those who participate in these activities because of a principled commitment.

2. Together with students, we will be holding a teach-in in the Campus Center from 9-12 on April 21. Let us know

if you would be willing to speak for ten minutes, and on what topic. Also let us know if you will urge your class to

attend the teach-in, instead of going to your regular class or in addition to it.

3. There will be informational pickets from 9-12 at four locations (Bartlett, Herter, Lederle, Thompson). Let us

know if you are willing to picket or willing to serve as a faculty member to sign forms certifying students missed

classes to participate in April 21 activities.

This is the first step in a series of activities. We are still making plans and considering options around:

May 25th Board of Trustees Meeting (9:15 a.m. at UMass Dartmouth)

May 12 Inauguration of President Wilson

May 22 Commencement

Please order academic regalia for Commencement. Plan to attend, both to honor our students’ graduation and to participate in our commencement activities.

MSP ACTION ALERT (4-19-05)

Friday your paycheck should contain a healthy addition for retroactive pay. That's a first installment and we'll have to keep fighting for the rest.

On Thursday students will be boycotting classes. We will be acting to promote our contract issues and the university budget, and we need your help and participation in four ways - getting students to promote a better budget, supporting the teach-in, giving students permission to participate, and joining activities yourself. Please reply to this message and let us know if you can help in any of these ways:

1. PROMOTING A BETTER BUDGET. On Thursday, at the Student Union, we hope to get hundreds of students to phone their legislators, asking for a better budget. Urge students to come and call their legislator; we'll have a complete set-up ready for them. To make that work we need:

Twenty (20) people to lend their cell phones to be used for the day. We can reimburse you for the cost of the calls.

People to volunteer one hour to staff the phone operation. We'd like at least two people on duty throughout the day. Sign up for a one hour slot; more if you are able.

2. TEACH-IN. We already have more than a dozen faculty members, and special guest Barbara Ehrenreich, talking at the teach-in. We can use more volunteers to talk for ten minutes each on any topic related to the day's events, and we hope many faculty will send their classes to the teach-in, on the steps of the Student Union (if it's good weather) or in the Cape Cod Lounge (if it's raining) from 9-12 and 2-4.

3. TAKE THE PLEDGE. More than 175 faculty have already signed the pledge giving students permission to miss class to participate in Thursday's activities. If you have not yet signed, please add your name even if you are not teaching that day.

4. JOIN IN. Speak at the teach-in, send your class, come make a phone call to the legislature, join the noon gathering, walk an informational picket line.

MSP ACTION ALERT (4-28-05)

Three items of importance: a forum on unions and Iraq, MSP elections, and our chance for a breakthrough in hiring more faculty.

UNIONS AND IRAQ

Should Campus Unions Oppose the War in Iraq? Should unions even take positions on issues like this? We invite you to attend a forum, co-sponsored by MSP, GEO, and SEIU, where members of these unions will take differing positions on the issues. On Tuesday May 3rd at 12 noon in Campus Center 803.

MSP ELECTIONS

Elections for MSP officers and board members will be held on Wednesday May 4th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the MSP Office, 121 Hampshire House.

FACULTY SHORTAGE - A BREAKTHROUGH?

Thanks to our efforts rebuilding the faculty is now on lots of p