November 14,2002
Dear Colleagues:
On behalf of the MSCA, I want to thank all of the members who worked on the various campaigns and ballot initiatives that were decided on November 5th. Although our endorsed candidates did not prevail, I am proud of the leadership role that our union played in the election. I have sent a letter of congratulations to Governor-Elect Romney and am interested to see what his administration will bring in terms of public higher education.
At long last, I have received an answer from the Group Insurance Commission on the inclusion of part-time faculty in group insurance benefits. The GIC has turned down this request. Copies of the GIC decision, with possible strategies to deal with it, are being prepared for general distribution to the membership.
We are scheduled to resume negotiations on distance education and intellectual property rights on January 15th. DGCE negotiations open in February, and the day contract negotiations are scheduled to open in early March. The DGCE bargaining committee has distributed a survey to all DGCE bargaining unit members; the day team is working on a survey for all day unit members.
In moments of deja vu, I am asked frequently about the rumor that another early retirement incentive is in the works. The source of the "rumor" is the Swift administration. Knowing that the Acting Governor faces the possibililty of making more 9C cuts before she leaves office, Swift wants the Legislature to come back into session to approve a number of budget cuts, including cutting our health insurance premiums from 85/15 to 80/20 or even 75/25. As part of the "sweetener" to get the Legislature to do that, she has suggested that they consider yet another early retirement bill. However, she has not filed any legislation on early retirement, and I do not believe that the Legislature will return to formal session until after Mitt Romney takes office.
Members should rest assured that, should another early retirement bill be filed, I will be contacted by the MTA lobbyists and I will inform the membership ASAP.
Pat Markunas MSCA President
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