October 1, 2001

Dear Colleagues:

Your phone calls, emails and letters to legislators are having an effect. Indications are that members of the Swift administration as well as many legislators are showing support for the funding of our contract. We must insure that the contract funding is built permanently into the college operating budgets. Please keep up your contacts with your representatives and senators.

In addition to great activity by the MSCA and MTA, the college presidents have undertaken their own legislative lobbying campaign on this issue. The presidents are planning to attend tomorrow's meeting of the Board of Higher Education to urge the Board's action on this issue. I will address the BHE as well on your behalf. This is a public meeting and you should attend if possible (9:30 am at the Massachusetts College of Art; contact my office for directions).

A meeting has been set up with House Speaker Finneran for this week; those attending will be BHE Chair Steve Tocco, Chancellor Judith Gill, MTA Executive Director Edward Sullivan, and myself.

Ours is not the only collective bargaining contract affected by the fiscal situation. At least a dozen other unions have contracts with the state still to be funded; the community colleges, U-Mass at Amherst and Boston, and the APA unit at the state colleges are involved as well. Representatives and senators report that they are receiving calls and emails from other union members in addition to our own.

Your response to last week's message has been gratifying. Please keep up your lobbying activity. It has never been more important.

Pat Markunas
MSCA President

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9/25/01