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September 11, 2020

FSU Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

September 11, 2020 (via Zoom)

Ex Comm Members Present: Steve Striffler; Caroline Coscia; Tracy Brown; Monique Fuguet; Jessica Holden; Meghan Kallman; Linda Liu; José Martínez-Reyes; Jeff Melnick; Joe Ramsey; Tim Sieber; Travis Johnston

Others Present: Shawna Butler; Katie D’Urso, MTA Field Rep; Gillian MacNaughton, Grievance Officer; Lorenzo Nencioli, FSU Membership Coordinator; Ursula Tafe; Amy Todd

  1. Approval of the agenda: Motion to approve. Motion seconded. Motion passes unanimously.

     
  2. Approval of the minutes will occur at the next Executive Committee meeting (September 25).

     
  3. Announcements: MTA all-member meeting on Tuesday, September 15, 4:30-6:00 p.m. Open tenure-track representative position on the Executive Committee to replace Sofya Aptekar; nominations are due Wednesday, September 16.

     
  4. Indigenous Peoples Day: Tim gives update on statement from group led by the Native American & Indigenous Studies (NAIS) Program and the Institute for New England Native American Studies (INENAS). Group seeking FSU’s endorsement of celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day in October 2020 as an alternative to Columbus Day. Discussion of issue. Motion to endorse celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day. Motion seconded. Motion passes unanimously.

     
  5. FSU Forums: Discussion of virtual FSU forums for fall 2020. Forum topics could include: sexual harassment policies; health and safety; racial justice; junior faculty/NTT research; establishing better connections with students and the community; faculty and democratic governance at UMass Boston; remote Healey Library services. Discussion focused on NTT issues, inequity regarding health and safety, and austerity measures. Steve asks for volunteers to plan series of austerity forums. Joe, Linda, and José volunteer.

     
  6. Outreach/Organizing: Lorenzo: FSU Ex Comm agreed to do outreach to faculty in the College of Management and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Each Ex Comm member has been assigned to five members in these colleges. Ex Comm members will contact their assigned faculty before our next meeting as an informal check-in, discussing expanded bargaining and general union issues. Discussion of issue.

     
  7. Faculty of Color Report: Steve: FSU’s response to the report included numbers on faculty retention, etc. Will send response to FSU members on Monday. An FSU forum to discuss report and response will be scheduled. Discussion of issue: report needs to be revised to include NTT faculty; link to forum can be shared with members of other campus unions.

     
  8. Bargaining/Labor Management Update: Steve: Next L/M meeting scheduled for September 25. Next bargaining meetings scheduled for September 30 and October 14. Discussion of bargaining-related issues.

     
  9. Executive Committee’s Goals for the Year: Suggested goals include reestablishing campus community connection on race and other issues; AFRs during COVID-19; getting to know our membership better through surveys and other channels.

MEETING ENDS