On Mar. 12 the MTA sponsored a meeting for leaders of all the higher education locals to discuss the issues facing us in the upcoming year. Representatives from all the units attended but MCCC had by far the largest delegation.
Priscilla Lyons, MTA's Director of Higher Education, started the session with an overview of the current status of higher ed. in Massachusetts. The Umass faculty (MSP/ FSU) and staff (USA) along with the state college professional staff (APA) all had their outstanding contracts funded in Nov. She pointed out to the assembled union members that the MCCC contract remains unfunded and that funding it is a prime MTA objective. Jo Blum, Director of MTA Governmental, gave a lengthy presentation on the political year ahead. She began by pointing out that Gov. Romney has a 60% approval rating, and that there is no clear voice in opposition to him.
Blum detailed the state's structural budget deficit of $1.2 billion projected to extend for each of the next three years. Gov. Romney explains this as a problem of too much spending, but Blum pointed that Massachusetts has cut taxes in the last few years more aggressively than any other state ($3.7 billion).
Furthermore state spending much lower than other states. As a percentage of personal income we are 45th in the nation in overall state spending. We continue to be 49th in support for higher education (and in K-12). No state has cut education more than Massachusetts from 1970 to 2000.
Blum finished by discussing this year's elections. The Mar. 2 election to replace Sen. Cheryl Jacques provided some important lessons for the fall. MTA endorsed Angus McQuilken against Republican Scott Brown. While Jacques is very liberal, the district has twice the state average of Republican registration and half the Democratic registration.
The Republican Party put $140,000 into the race, and MTA contributed significant support to McQuilken. Given the edge in Republican registration, it was a good sign that the vote difference was only 1%.
The lesson is clear, Blum said, that with Gov. Romney targeting senate seats, and with his ability to raise large amounts of money to support them, MTA and its members will have to work very long and hard to preserve the supportive majority in the senate. Without this majority, there will be no chance of getting increased funding for the colleges and members' contracts. She stressed the importance of supporting targeted senators: Harriette Chandler, Brian Joyce, Thomas McGee, Therese Murray and Robert O'Leary.
The final presenter was Ira Fader from MTA Legal. He discussed the proposals to change the retirement plan. State pension law says that the pension is a contractual obligation, and as such it is protected by the U.S. Constitution's protection of contracts. However, taking the state to court is a slow and arduous process. He urged members to fight proposals to change the pension law in the legislature.
MCCC members Ken Czuchra, Springfield; Peter Flynn, Northern Essex; Ned McGuire, Mass Bay; Liz Recko-Morrison, Berkshire; Abe Sherf, North Shore.
MCCC members Brooks Smith, Cape Cod; Sandy Cutler and Roberta Albano, Springfield; Joe LeBlanc, MCCC VP and Michael Bathory, Greenfield.