ACTION NEEDED

USA members,

Several board members met with Governor Deval Patrick about our contract funding last night and he told us that he submitted our contracts to the legislature for funding and that we need to contact them to get them to fund them. 

So I am here to ask that all of you contact your legislators and ask them to fund our contracts.  They may tell you that they can't be funded until we go back to the table and consider take backs so that we may do our part to help with the economic crisis we are facing.  Respectfully remind them that we have given take backs, we have taken a 0% increase, we are paying more for our health insurance, and we are paying higher co-pays when we use that insurance. 

The Legislators continue to talk about shared sacrifices but in a time when we were offered a  0% increase and a 1% the President of the University was given a 15.4% increase (he has since announced that he will forego this increase until we receive ours). Where is the shared sacrifice there? 

I will continue to work with the MTA on funding issues with the Governor but I am asking you all to contact your Representatives and Senators every payday to remind them that we are still waiting.  Many of them are  faced with competition for their seats this year for the first time in awhile and if they want our continued support they need to step up and to honor the deal they made with us.  Please take a moment to call or email them as soon as possible and then follow up every payday so they know you are not going to drop this issue. Preserving collective bargaining rights is imperative if we ever want to get salary increases and benefits in the future.  If you have any questions feel free to contact me or any board member and we will try to help you.  Remember that the legislators work for us because without your vote they can't get re-elected so now is the time for us to capitilize on our vote.  Have a great day and as always I will keep you posted.

In solidarity,

Donna Johnson

President USA