Currently the Massachusetts Legislature is ensnared in a rather baffling pissing contest between the House and Senate on spending priorities. Caught in the crossfire of this are a significant number of union contracts between the state and the Massachusetts Teacher Association—the implementation of these contracts is contingent on their funding. As the MTA puts it:
The state Legislature has abandoned its duty by failing to fund ratified contracts with unions representing tens of thousands of state workers, including roughly 15,000 public higher education faculty and staff members who are MTA members.Implementation of contracts that include negotiated pay raises has been stalled for months. MTA members working at community colleges have not seen a pay raise since 2020.
The Legislature’s inability to pass a supplemental budget that funds these contracts epitomizes the dysfunction happening on Beacon Hill. It is equally egregious that the Legislature’s inaction on a supplemental budget imperils migrant families in desperate need of shelter.
We must let lawmakers know that public employees, their family members and those who support the public good are holding them accountable for these failures.
Prioritizing petty rivalries within and between the Senate and House over treating public servants with respect and dignity must come at a price. The Legislature’s inability to take care of simple business is making it increasingly difficult to attract and retain highly qualified faculty and staff to work at community colleges, state universities and the UMass system – just as we are fighting to expand access to public higher education.
So, if you're in Massachusetts, you can help the MTA's attempt to get a supplemental budget passed addressing this oversight by using the form below. They're also encouraging you to call your legislators and to follow up if you do send a message to them.