Salem Chapter MSCA Meeting
Executive Board Meeting
25 February 2002
Approved18 March 2002
01-02: 6

ATTENDANCE: Aiyeku, Billings, Burchsted, Everitt, Farahbakhsh, Gould, Hanrahan, Krugman, Larson, Luddy, McGee (President), Sturgeon.

GUESTS: Nancy Harrington, College President Margaret Vaughan, Grievance Officer

The meeting was called to order by Paul McGee, the President, at 2:04 p.m. in The Presidential Dining Room.

1. President Harrington reported to the Board.
She repeated much of what she had said to the college community at a prior meeting. Budget Cuts: $1.6 million cut in December this year $250 thousand additional in late January. Further cuts may still come for this year. Financial aid has been cut, as well as the Library funding. We are targeted because government expects us to raise fees, and they believe we do not have a militant advocacy base. Cuts seem to hit the most vulnerable sectors of the Commonwealth. Next fiscal year there will $3.6 million more in cuts. But that process has not ended yet. We will also be hurt by early retirement and the ancillary costs attached to that process, such a sick day buy backs. What can be done?

1. Increase student fees by $700 to $800 per year.
2. Be advocates for ourselves.

A Community Action network, organized by Cynthia McGurren, is hard at work. Action should occur in late March and early April.

Raises will appear in the March 1 paycheck.

A report from U MA Amherst was distributed, entitled “Massachusetts Public Higher Education: A Shrewd Investment with Significant Returns”

2. Approval of Minutes.
It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes of 6 December, 01-02:4 The motion carried. It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes of 24 January, 01-02:5 The motion carried.

3. Treasurer’s Report.
The Treasurer distributed the February report. We have received over $5000, and we are paying off bills. But there are still bills outstanding. It was moved by Susan Sturgeon and seconded by Chuck Gould to raise local dues for full time faculty members by $10.00 per year. We currently pay $40.00/year. Worcester SC dues are $72/year, Bridgewater and Westfield SCs are $60/year. Discussion followed.

Juditha Burchsted offered a friendly amendment, which was accepted by both the original mover and seconder, that the dues for full time faculty be increased by $20.00 per year. The motion carried.

4. Report from the Committee to Evaluate the recompense for the Office Secretary.
It was moved by Tom Billings and seconded by Chuck Gould that the recompense for the Office Secretary be raised by $1.00 per hour. After much discussion it was decided that an additional $0.50 per hour could be added at this time as a delayed probationary period raise. So the final motion was that the recompense for the Office Secretary be raised by $1.50 per hour. The motion carried.

5. Grievance Officer Report.
There are 10 active grievances. Nothing of general significance emerges from them. The Officer has been attending meetings of statewide grievance officers and observes that faculty at Salem State have unusually good working conditions.

6. President’s Report.
Merit pay has been distributed at three different rates, about $750.00, $1200 and $1500. About 90 faculty got nothing. A report on Upper Salaries as of January 2002 was distributed. A report on Salary Comparisons as of January 2002 was distributed. A new Executive Committee contact sheet was distributed. An e-mil from Nancy Schultz to President Harrington concerning faculty advice about budgetary matters was distributed. Some discussion followed.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:42pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Thomas E. Luddy, secretary