Friday, May 15, 2020 – Google Hangouts

Present

APA Statewide:

• Sherry Horeanopoulos, President and Fitchburg State President
• Charlie Cianfarini, Vice President
• Mark Powers, Secretary
• Maria Brunelle, Treasurer
• Aaron Childs, Membership Coordinator
• Liz Novak, Web Manager
• Catherine Santiago, MTA Field Representative

APA Chapter Presidents:

• Brian Cahillane, Westfield State University
• Jane Decatur, Framingham State University
• Susan McNeil, Massachusetts College of Art & Design
• Mike Storey, Bridgewater State University
• Edward Vacha, Massachusetts Maritime Academy
• Maribeth Wrobel, Worcester State University

Absent

APA Statewide:

• Alan Jackson, APA Representative to Health & Welfare

APA Chapter Presidents:

• Seth Bean, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Mike Pelletier, Salem State University

Call to Order

10:08am

Approval of Minutes

Friday, April 18, 2020

• Amendments: None
• Motion to approve membership report as presented/amended made: by: S. McNeil 2nd by: M. Wrobel
• Vote: 8-0-0 Action: Motion Carries

Public Comments

None

President’s Report – Sherry Horeanopoulos

Contract updates

• Call with Matt Jones and MSCA/APA/MCCC re: abeyance Matt Jones advice:
  • Consider overall goals in bargaining
  • Timing of sessions – “how long do we want things to go”?
  • Reconsidered goals in light of COVID
  • Duty to bargain in good faith is still in effect – we must meet and bargain to come to consider each other’s proposals – and come to an agreement
  • Abeyance is not a legal term – it only means to delay
  • Changed circumstances, such as we are experiencing CAN effect offers on the table (i.e., parameters) and financial offers can be justifiably reneged or withdrawn. (NOT regressive bargaining)
  • MSCA and MCCC will not delay if possible
• Quote from Suzanne Wall, “Lack of Money means lack of Power for Management bargaining chips.”
• To discuss:
• Contract employees in the face of retirements and failure to return to work Athletics employees if fall seasons are cancelled
• Early retirement waivers

From C. Santiago:

• Massachusetts Teacher Association (MTA) Summer Conference cancelled Regarding APA contract, suggesting we Invoke the Evergreen Clause.

COVID-19 and repopulating campuses

• Fitchburg State:
  • Per my request to be included in the committees forming to plan the return to work, I have been appointed to the task force at FSU. Began with meeting this week with President Lapidus, VPs and Local Union Steward and Presidents. All will be included in the various committees.
  • Reminded Pres Lapidus that this request went to the CoP so that all APA chapters would be included in committees at all the campuses. How is this going on other campuses?
  • Questions I asked of Fitchburg EC:
    • Testing on campus? (Health Services)
    • How will Residential Services live-in staff be protected?
    • Will the campus provide Masks 7 PPE?
    • Would the University follow the guidelines as stated by the Atty General regarding the use of sick leave for those who will have childcare issues this summer?
    • What is the thinking about potential layoffs and furloughs?
  • Generally the presidents are still waiting for definitive decisions about how the state is going to conduct business, which will affect the way the campuses open and plan for the fall.
  • Most campuses surveyed their staff regarding their ability to return to work and are planning accordingly.
  • Broad outline of what the campuses seem to be doing:
  • May 18 – those 10-month employees and ones that cannot work from home begin to return, either to get their belongings or to work in shifts (3-day?) at the job, while being distanced from nearby co-workers.
  • June 1 – gradual phased re-entry of those able to begin working in shifts at their offices
  • August 1 – full return – if classes are on campus in September. Most campuses planning hybrid solutions
• MTA
  • Max called to discuss the furlough and layoff strategy – feels the practice is unnecessary

HELC (Higher Education L? C?)

• Attended the HELC online meeting on 5/8. There was a lot of discussion about the layoffs and furloughs in the UMass Campuses (pretty much all except the Medical School). Max has been very outspoken about this issue for the UMass campuses. Badly affects custodial staff at the campuses (Lowell) that hold extensive events over the summer that have been cancelled.
• Commentary around the CARES Act and how it is intended to prevent layoffs and job loss
• A lot of discussion about bargaining difficulties. BHE has reported that it has no authority, thereforeneitherdoesManagement,tobargainanyfinancialterms. MSCAandMCCCare still pushing for bargaining to continue.
• Government Relations reports that the Mass state budget and revenues will take a big hit regarding COVID expenses. Campuses are expecting a reduction in funding.

New Address of MTA Worcester Office

• 12 Worcester St
  Worcester MA
  (off of Shrewsbury St – behind VIA (?) with parking available

Treasurer’s Report – Maria Brunelle

Payroll due on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 by 12:00pm.

Approval of April report

• Amendments: None
• Motion to approve membership report as presented/amended made: by: C. Cianfarini 2nd by: M. Storey
• Vote: 8-0-1 Action: Motion Carries

Membership and Data – Aaron Childs

• 1362 Overall Membership since April 2020.
• 1253 Dues Paying Members. A decline of 13 since April 2020.
• 109 Non-Dues Paying Member. A decline of 3 since April 2020.
• While upgrade operating system on APA server when on campus next month
• SSL Certificate will expire but we have a credit from the last time.

Website – Liz Novak

• No updates. 

Health and Welfare Report – Alan Jackson

• No report.

Committee Reports

Budget Committee – Mike Storey

• Revised Bylaws per last month’s discussion sent to everyone.

Employee Relations Working Group – Mark Powers

• Consider Telecommuting Policy for this group to discuss

Professional Development – Edward Vacha

• TA Annual meeting held remotely May 1st and 2nd

Negotiations – Sherry Horeanopoulos

• See notes under Presidents remarks.
• Suggest dates in June for an initial meeting to set ground rules
• Invoke Evergreen Clause

Old/New Business

• FAQ of the Month for the Website for June – Returning to the campus….
• Furloughs – Areas that could/would be issues: Athletics, Residence Life.
• Projected budget cuts from State ranging from 3% to 10% depending on the campus.
• Early retirement??
• Campus COVID-19 Committees for Fall 2020+ – Is Employee density being considered?

Institutional Issues

Announcements

Friday Check-In meetings via Google Hangouts

Adjournment

• Motion to Adjourn made at 12:36pm
• by: S. McNeil 2nd by: M. Wrobel
• Vote: 8-0-0 Action: Motion Carries
• Next Meeting: 10:00 – June 19, 2020 (Google Hangouts)