May 31,2005

Dear MSCA Members:

As many of you, the higher education unions have experienced enormous and unfair difficulties during negotiations and the contract funding process. A bill has been filed to allow our employer, the Board of Higher Education, to negotiate with MSCA, MCCC and APA and then be able to file requests for contract funding directly with the Legislature for its action. This bill would remove the administration's ability to return a ratified and executed agreement to the parties for renegotiation, prior to legislative action. The bill would not affect the gubernatorial veto process or the Legislature's ability to ovveride a veto.

The bill, HB 530, has been filed by Representative Quinn and will be presented for public testimony at a hearing of the Public Service Committee on June 9th beginning at 10:30 am in Hearing Room B-1 of the State House in Boston. Representatives of all higher education unions will be present and anyone is welcome to attend.

This bill has received the unanimous support of the MSCA Board of Directors, the MCCC Executive Committee, the APA Board of Directors, the Higher Education Leadership Council and the MTA Board of Directors. It was filed at the request of the Massachusetts Federation of Teachers.

Please call or email your local representative and senator and urge them to support a favorable recommendation for HB 530 from the Public Service Committee, co-chaired by Representative Kaufman and Senator Buoniconti. We will keep you informed about the bill's progress. Thank you for your help.

Pat Markunas,
MSCA President

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