February 19, 2001

The parties met for bargaining on Friday, February 16th, at Worcester State College. Despite urgent reminders from the employer about the slowdown in state revenue growth, the employer's representatives were unable to provide any counterproposal on the post-tenure review process, the economic items, or the non-economic items still outstanding. This situation resulted in great frustration for our bargaining team. Promises were made by the employer's representatives to provide written proposals on these matters no later than Thursday, February 22nd, in anticipation of a bargaining session on Friday, February 23rd.

On Thursday, February 22nd, public hearings will be held on the proposed state budget for Fiscal Year 2002 in the Rondelieu Campus Center at Bridgewater State College. Higher education is on the agenda for 10:00 am to noon, and I will represent the MSCA at those hearings. These hearings are open to the public.

By now, everyone who teaches in the DGCE bargaining unit should have received notification of the contract ratification vote to take place on each local campus between 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm on Tuesday, February 27th. Copies of the existing DGCE contract are available in local chapter offices. If you have any questions or concerns about your work in DGCE or the provisions of the new contract, you may attend the contract orientation meeting, to be held Thursday, February 22nd, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the North/South Auditorium in the Student Center at Worcester State College.

Pat Markunas
MSCA President

MSCA Home/Messages to the Membership
2/21/01