MTA Today - Fall 2015

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MCCC fights ‘unfair’ contract demands

Members take action in response to proposals for ‘numerous takebacks’

By Scott McLennan

F ull-time faculty and staff members represented by the Massachusetts Community College Council have begun job actions and protests at the state’s

15 community colleges in response to contract negotiations that union leaders decry as disrespectful in tone and disappointing in content.

“I’m perplexed,” said MCCC
President Joe LeBlanc. “Everyone says
how great we are and how important
the community colleges are for the
state, but when it comes to showing that
respect during bargaining or putting
Twelve months ago, the MCCC
Day Unit representing full-time faculty
and staff made a formal request to
bargain a three-year successor contract
with the colleges and the state Board
of Higher Education. But it took
several more months for the colleges
to start meeting with the MCCC
MCCC bargaining team Chair
Claudine Barnes characterized
the negotiations as atypical and
unfortunate. She blamed the BHE and
the college representatives at the table.

“This has been unfair to our
members and to students. They are
forcing us into job actions. Their
proposals have numerous takebacks
and it’s a lousy monetary package,”
she said.

The BHE and college presidents are offering smaller raises than those seen in recently settled contracts for faculty and staff members at the state universities and on University of Massachusetts campuses.

Equally troubling are proposals by the colleges that strip away professional judgment, change the faculty tenure process to include student outcomes and weaken workers’ rights.

LeBlanc and Barnes described the package offered as straining the day unit and forcing out part-time workers while creating an environment that will make it more difficult to attract highly qualified full-time employees.

“Why are they pushing us on student outcomes? That is completely unheard of in higher ed,” LeBlanc said.

“Is it because they want us to be more
like the local high school? I hope not.”
As MTA Today went to press,
MCCC members on most of the
community college campuses had
voted to adopt work-to-rule actions
in response to the proposals, and the
remaining campus chapters were
scheduling votes on actions.
Under work to rule, MCCC
members withdraw from all voluntary
work and adhere strictly to the
guidelines of the existing contract.
MCCC members have also
been speaking out at meetings of
campus boards of trustees about their
frustrations over the current round of
bargaining and have been carrying signs
demanding a fair contract at stand-outs
held when state officials were visiting.
MCCC members on all campuses are
wearing buttons and stickers designed
to raise awareness of the contract issue.

Barnes said the demonstrations and member actions are having an impact. On some campuses, she said, the actions have led to alliances between the MCCC and students, as well as between the union and members of the boards.

“Even when there was just a threat of actions taking place, management pulled some of the bad proposals off of the table,” Barnes said. “I think this is teaching newer members — and reminding all members — of the need for collective action and the importance of solidarity.”

‘Even when there was just a threat of actions
taking place, management pulled some of the
bad proposals off of the table. I think this is
teaching newer members — and reminding all
members — of the need for collective action
and the importance of solidarity.’
— MCCC bargaining team Chair Claudine Barnes