Messages to the Membership-Pres. Pat Markunas: MSCA

August 6, 2001

Dear Colleagues:

Work continues on the finalization of the language for the 2001-2003 MTA/BHE contract. Our goal is still to have copies ready and on the campuses by the start of classes. The contract will be posted on the MSCA WebPage as soon as it is finalized.

As many of you know, the state budget for next year has not been finalized. The legislature is now expected to be in recess (albeit an informal recess) until mid-September. Efforts are being made to initiate action on HB 4148, our contract's funding bill, as a non-controversial item. Such items can be considered during informal sessions. We will keep you informed about these efforts.

The Senate moved forward on two Domestic Partner Health Insurance Bills (for Brookline and Cambridge) by voting them into Third Reading. Senate President Tom Birmingham has long supported Domestic Partners legislation and had indicated again this year his desire to move the Domestic Partnership bills through the Senate.

The omnibus Domestic Partners Bill (for state and municipal employees) is currently in Senate Ways & Means. Efforts to move all three Domestic Partners bills through the state legislature would be greatly enhanced if representatives and senators receive more calls and letters from constituents indicating their support for Domestic Partners legislation. It would suffice for members to ask legislators to support all the Domestic Partnership Bills in the legislature; specific bill numbers are as follows:

S1344 = DP Legislation (State and Municipal)
H528 = Brookline's DP Home- Rule Bill
H4225 = Cambridge's DP Home-Rule Bill.

Thanks for your help with these bills.

Pat Markunas
MSCA President

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8/6/01