Hard Fought Negotiations Lead to Impressive Contract Agreements for
Massachusetts Higher Education and State Workers

Perseverance and skillful negotiating have yielded a series of impressive contract victories for Council 93 members working for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The more than 5,000 members of AFSCME Higher Education Locals 1067, 1776, and 507, voted overwhelmingly this past March to ratify new collective bargaining agreements.

In addition, Council 93 has reached a tentative contract agreement for approximately 9,000 employees covered under the state Alliance contract. Those members, who work in human services, conservation and recreation and various other positions, are scheduled to vote on their contract on April 27.

The agreements represent a significant victory for Council 93 and its members given the strong anti-union sentiment of the administration of Governor Mitt Romney and Lt. Governor Kerry Healey.

“Our staff, the presidents of these locals, and the members of the various negotiating teams have done a phenomenal job on these collective bargaining agreements,” said Council 93 Executive Director Tony Caso. “The agreements are a strong indication that our Council remains a powerful and viable force here in Massachusetts, despite ongoing assaults by the Romney/Healey Administration. Our entire membership should be extremely proud of this effort.”

Under the three-year contracts ratified by AFSCME higher education employees, members will receive pay increases ranging from 6 percent to 8.5 percent depending on the local. AFSCME members working at state and community colleges will receive a 50 cent per hour increase in shift differential pay. These workers also received increases in their mileage reimbursement and will now also be reimbursed for parking and toll costs. In major language victories, members working at state and community colleges also secured elimination of mandatory stand-by duty and are exempt from fees as well as tuition if they attend a state public higher education institution. Prior to the new contract agreement, these workers only received free tuition.

State university employees also secured improvements in differential pay policies. In addition, U-Mass Amherst and state and community colleges workers won language mandating a minimum 10 percent pay increase for top-step workers who are promoted, a 8 percent jump over the previous minimum.

“Our members work quietly behind the scenes to keep things running safely and smoothly at our state and community colleges,” said Christopher Olsen, president of AFSCME Local 1067. “But all too often, their efforts go unnoticed. This contract provides our members with the recognition they deserve and I want to thank Council 93 and the negotiating team for fighting so hard on behalf of our members.”

Olsen added that he was also pleased with the backing that the contract received from his members, noting that no other contract in the history of the local had received a greater percentage of support.

Francis Martin, president of AFSCME Local 1776 at U-Mass Amherst, said that overall he was pleased with the contract his members received. “You always want to do more for your members but I believe we did the very best we could given the opposition we have consistently faced from the Romney/Healey Administration,” Martin said. “We didn’t lose anything. We only gained. And, our members realized that by approving this contract so quickly, we can get started earlier on our next contract, which will hopefully be negotiated with the administration of a Democratic governor.”

Cheryl Bednarik, President of Local 507, said she was also satisfied with the contract for her members, who work at U-Mass Dartmouth. “The negotiation process was quite challenging but as usual, we held our ground, fought hard, and we were able to obtain a contract that provides fair compensation for the hard work that our members do each and every day.”

Ratification of the collective bargaining agreements places all Council 93 higher education members under contract. Members of AFSCME Local 2616, led by President Joseph Schilling, ratified a contract last year. Local 2616 members work at U-Mass Medical Center in Worcester.

The one-year tentative Alliance agreement includes a 3 percent wage increase for all members covered under the contract as well as a 50 cent per hour shift differential increase.

The Alliance agreement also provides for an additional $1 million classification pool that will be spent effective July 1, 2006 to fund step, grade, or other increases that are successfully negotiated by the union. In addition, the tentative agreement also expands funding for career ladder training and provides the increased funding needed to maintain current dental and vision benefits. Moreover, the agreement contains language stipulating that both parties will work to develop a dispute resolution program focused on expediting the review and final disposition of sick leave related grievances.