Faculty and librarians at MCLA and the nine state colleges and universities throughout Massachusetts returned to work-to-rule on Wednesday, following a grievance with the Council of Presidents of the Massachusetts State University System.

The grievance filed is in regard to workload equivalencies, which see faculty paid at a higher rate when performing additional activities in addition to just teaching as Graziana Ramsden, president of the MCLA Faculty Association, explained in an email.

“Workload equivalencies are in the contract to pay faculty for a full hour when they teach lab, practica, internship supervision, etc., instead of being paid for 3/4 of an hour or less,” Ramsden said.

In Ramsden’s opinion, the grievance stems from the Council of Presidents (CoP)—a committee consisting of presidents from each of the state colleges which helped to negotiate the contract—wavering on the issue.

“The presidents’ argument was that this change (which they agreed upon at bargaining months ago) would cost the state universities too much money. Then why did they agree to it months ago? It’s like you signing a lease for an apartment in agreement with your friend; the day before moving in your friend says the lease is too expensive and they’re pulling out. So you’re stuck with the lease, and no apartment. Sound familiar?” Ramsden said.

The grievance was filed retroactive to the fall 2018 semester and was denied by Francis McDonald, chairman of the Council of Presidents and president of Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Financial changes are the only ones not taking effect; those changes Ramsden believes were minimal at best.

“The changes that are not being implemented are all financial—faculty raises and Chair stipends, for one. The raises we agreed upon were minimal—a two percent per year raise for three years. As an example, a faculty making $50,000 would get a raise of 1,000 a year; for the first year it’s $84 a month. This raise barely covers the cost of living increase in Massachusetts, which is one of the most expensive states to live in the U.S.,” Ramsden said.

In Ramsden’s opinion, the recent hiccup is demoralizing considering the upcoming election in Massachusetts.

“The Commonwealth, however, has seen a surplus of over a billion dollars, which is being used as a campaign line by the Governor, who’s up for re-election. It’s demoralizing that the state university faculty, who serve a large percentage of Commonwealth students who attend public universities, are being kept in a holding pattern.”

The grievance, however, is not the first hiccup that the union has faced in the approval of their new contract. On Sept. 15, the Massachusetts State College Association (MSCA) filed an unfair labor practice charge against the Board of Higher Education (BHE) for their failure to submit the contract to Governor Charlie Baker for funding by Aug. 16, 2018.

The report cited Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 150E, Section 7, Subsection (c) which states, in part:

“Every such employer shall submit to the governor, within thirty days after the date on which a collective bargaining agreement is executed by the parties, a request for an appropriation necessary to fund such incremental cost items contained therein as are required to be funded in the then current fiscal year.”

Work-to-rule is a negotiating tactic which sees employees do only what is required by their contracts, often in an attempt to slow productivity. However, Ramsden believes that there will be no direct impact on students.

“In terms of what work-to-rule means for students and projects—it actually does not affect you. Faculty are still doing everything that we’re required by the contract: teaching and advising you, supervising your projects, internships, practicums, etc. Only faculty are being paid less than the union and the presidents agreed that faculty would be paid,” Ramsden said.

James Birge, president of MCLA, told the Beacon in a statement that he and the CoP support the faculty union.

“The CoP and I continue to support the agreement negotiated between the BHE and the MSCA, and we have been in very frequent—nearly daily—contact with the administration to voice our support, ask questions, and address any issues they may have for us. I have personally spoken with the Commissioner of Higher Education as well as the Secretary of Education encouraging their support for the agreement. We do not know how long it will be before we know if the cost items in the agreement will or will not be funded.”

In a post on the MSCA website, Union President C.J. O’Donnell outlined compromises that the union was willing to make in an effort to avoid contract complications or violations.

Ramsden stressed the importance of voting this November and the importance of supporting unions.

“The MSCA union is working tirelessly to get the contract funding to the governor. This is an election year, and a controversial one, especially since unions nationwide are under attack by the current government in Washington and in individual states,” Ramsden wrote.

“The Supreme Court is stacked against unions, and they voted to weaken unions last June with the so-called Janus decision. So, faculty needs your support right now. Register to vote, in this election and let everyone know how important it is to fight for social justice and human rights.”