DGCE Tentative Agreement Reached

July 10, 2018

The MSCA reached a tentative agreement with management on a successor to the 2015-2017 DGCE collective bargaining agreement.  You can view the tentative agreement here.

The agreement is for a 2% increase in DGCE stipends retroactive to the spring 2018 instructional period (semester), a 2% increase effective at the beginning of the spring 2019 semester and then a 2% increase at the beginning of the spring 2020 semester.

There are no other changes to the current contract.

The team worked hard to try to get the presidents to agree to increase the workload equivalencies in the DGCE a contract as they did in the day contract, but the presidents would not move on those.  The team held out as long as possible hoping that the proposed ballot question on the Massachusetts Constitutional amendment to increase the state income tax on income in excess of $1 million would reach the ballot.  However, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled on June 18, 2018 that the question, as worded, violated the Massachusetts Constitution.

Faced with the presidents’ continued threat not to pay the 2% increase retroactive increase for the spring 2018 semester, the team felt this was the best it could do.

In accordance with the MSCA Constitution, the MSCA Board of Directors is in the process of voting on whether to recommendation ratification to the membership and the method of the ratification vote (by US mail or in-person on the campuses).  A follow-up message will follow once those tasks have been completed.

On behalf of the DGCE Bargaining Team, we have appreciated members’ support and solidarity during rather contentious negotiations.

CJ O’Donnell
MSCA President