For immediate statewide
distribution...
Earlier today the House refused to override Gov. Romney's veto to
fund our 2002-2003 contract extension. Despite furious lobbying by
our lobbyist Charles Flaherty, Presidents Council lobbyist Michael
Muse, MTA Executive Director Eddie Sullivan, MTA lobbyist Arline
Isaacson, and MCCC Strategic Action Committee activist W. Brooks
Smith, their efforts failed due to what is being called a "technical
issue" dealing with the Governor's powers under Chapter 150E.
As is not the case in most state systems of higher education
where signed and costed out contracts go directly to the legislature
or other funding authority, our union first negotiates with our
employer, the Board of Higher Education. After ratification, signing
by the chancellor and union and costing out, the Governor must then
submit the funding package to the legislature.
Our saga began when the chancellor signed our contract extension in
August, 2002. After many, many weeks, the contract was costed out by
the BHE's Peter Tsaffaras in November and sent to Gov. Jane
Swift, who had just enough days left in her term to not be
legally required to act on it. In an atmosphere of fiscal and
political turmoil, she took the politically expedient route and left
it to incoming Governor Romney (our own Darth Vader), who refused to
do the decent thing. He rejected it, saying the contract with its .8
to 1.2 percent classification point/step increases exceeded his
financial parameters.
Since that time we have been trying with some success to convince the
legislature to fund our "points". They were passed by both branches
last fall in informal session and vetoed by Romney. They were passed
again last month in formal session only to be vetoed by Romney again.
After today's setback, Flaherty (and others) are advising us to "not
give up hope. We will keep working on this."
Practically speaking, we must turn our attention to present problems.
While we will continue to monitor and lobby for just and long overdue
payment of our 2003 "points" we also must focus on other issues:
- Payment of all points owed: 2003, 2004 and soon 2005.
This issue is of paramount importance in our ongoing negotiations.
Without yearly payment of the points, the classification study and
all its promise may as well be placed in a shredder and dumped on the
chancellor's and Romney's desks.
- Reform Chapter 150E this year: The MCCC's Executive
Committee is recommending that the union endorse the Mass. Federation
of Teachers sponsored bill to curtail the governor's powers under
Chapter 150E. The bill would require that the employer submit all
higher education contracts for funding within 30 days.
- Negotiate a new Collective Bargaining
Agreement: After three years without a salary increase, the
nonsense must and will stop.
- Job and other actions in support of the above: Later
this month, look for the MCCC's Board of Directors to recommend
action by our chapters and the Strategic Action Committee to be
recommending and working on a series of innovative and bold political
and other actions in coming weeks.
Just a couple of closing thoughts...
First, thanks are due to Rep. Phil Travis, D- Rehoboth, for his
remarks in the House chambers earlier today.
From the State House News Service: "Rep. Travis said he
supports the override. I am very upset that the monies that
ought to be taken up are not in these items. I can't believe
people in community colleges and state colleges, clerical staff, will
not have their contracts honored by this governor. Can you
believe that after three years of negotiation, we are told today by
Ways and Means and the Speaker that it's technically illegal to pay
this $32 million? How many have written letters to the Speaker?
I have. How many of you have been implored to approve the
$32 million? I am told technically you can't do it. Gov.
Swift made a mistake. Gov. Cellucci made a mistake. Gov. Romney
made a mistake. I am not going to be a party to a mistake.
We owe those funds. Our colleges are not working to full
capacity. We are losing good people because of this. Dear
colleagues, I implore you, this item has to be taken up as quickly as
possible because we have been lying to higher education for the past
two and a half years. I apologize for taking this up out of
turn. But you have been had. We have been collectively
had on this issue."
Bravo Rep. Travis! He is one of our many friends in the legislature.
Please call Rep. Travis's office today at 617-722-2430 to thank him
for his words on our behalf. Next, call your representative and
senator. Thank them for enacting our 2002-2003 contract extension
twice since last fall and ask that they find a way to
override the Governor and live by their moral obligation to our
members. Numbers are available at this website:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/legis.htm
While it may do little good, call or write the governor and ask him
that he treat us and our colleges and professions with respect.
State House
Office of the Governor
Room 360
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: (617) 725-4005
FAX: (617) 727-9725
TTY: (617) 727-3666
Having spent two years of my life and hundreds of hours on this
issue, I am disappointed but not defeated by today's news. I have
never believed that life is fair, just that it should be. As John
Cleese said, "If life were fair, Dan Quayle would be making a living
asking 'Do you want fries with that?' "
In solidarity,
Joe LeBlanc
MCCC