December 4, 2001
Dear Colleagues: By now, I hope that everyone has seen a copy of the letter that the Acting Governor sent to state employees concerning her actions on contracts, health insurance, etc. Your college president is responsible for distributing it on the campus; I have also asked that it be posted on the MSCA website.
The governor did not veto the health insurance premiums paid by state employees, so the breakdown of payments will remain at 85% paid by the state and 15% paid by the employee. She, once again, pledged her support of the full funding of all collective bargaining agreements sent by her office to the Legislature, and indicated that she will incorporate these costs into base budgets for FY 02 and 03.
Members who are interested in the early retirement legislation should contact their local representatives and senators to indicate support, as soon as possible.
All reports are that the Legislature will vote on the funding of all of the collective bargaining agreements -- including APA's as the last one through the door -- in tomorrow's (Wednesday) formal session. If my schedule allows it, I will go to the State House tomorrow for the votes, overrides, etc., and contact chapter presidents when the funding is finalized. I will also be in Boston today (Tuesday) for the BHE meeting this morning; the House has an informal session (caucus) scheduled for noon.
The governor did veto more monies from the colleges' operating budgets, the scholarship fund, the libraries and the matching endowment funds. The college presidents are lobbying hard to have the operating budgets restored to the conference committee levels.
Once again, members should know how important and successful their lobbying efforts were in terms of insuring the contract funding and preserving health insurance premiums at the current breakdown. MTA's leadership in the public employee union coalition was significant as well. Ed Sullivan, in particular, is to be commended for the strong positions on labor issues taken at the meetings with the governor and the speaker on November 21st.
Pat Markunas MSCA President
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