Faculty and librarians vote to ratify 3-year contract

by Sarah R. Buchholz, Chronicle staff

embers of the Massachusetts Society of Professors ratified a three-year contract with the University during balloting that closed Aug. 20. Faculty and librarians voted 481-16 in favor of the agreement.

     Highlights of the contract include 5 percent annual increases that contain a 3 percent across-the board raise and a 2 percent pool to be distributed based on merit; a pool of professional development funds; a semester-long leave with pay for the parents of newborn or newly adopted children; and a 37.5 percent increase in University contributions to the dental plan.

     The University also agreed to look into a pre-tax parking program and to form a joint committee with union members to track changes in the size of tenure-track faculty and the number of students served, using 1987-88 as a base year and comparing it with 2000-01 and subsequent years.