SHARE Member Meetings

Please join us on your break or lunch:

Mon 9/22      Ireland Conference Room, South Street        12 - 1:30 pm
Thur 9/25      S2-351, Main Campus                                 12 - 1:30 pm
Wed 10/1     1st Floor Conference Room, CCU                 2 - 4:00 pm

If you would like to set up a meeting for another location or time, please call the SHARE office, 508-929-4020, or email elisabeth.szanto@theshareunion.org.

Agenda:

1. Raise and Retro - update on timing
2. Childcare Fund - October 6 deadline for new applications
3. Upcoming election for SHARE representatives
4. Management proposal for some SHARE members to swipe in and out of work
5. Questions/Discussion

Childcare Fund - new applications

The SHARE Childcare Fund is now open for new applications. You may apply to the fund to receive financial assistance for daycare, after-school programs, in-home childcare, and vacation or Summer camp. Forms for the upcoming benefit period (which runs from October 1, 2014 to March 30, 2015) must be received no later than October 6, 2014.  Current recipients DO NOT need to reapply.

To download and print the form, please visit http://www.theshareunion.org/ApplicationFall2014.pdf

If you have any questions about the fund or the application, please contact: 

Dianne Williams

dianne.williams@umassmed.edu

508-856-5957

Andrea Caceres

andrea.caceres@theshareunion.org

617-455-7717

Raises and Retro - Q & A

Q. When will I get my raise and retro?

A. We do not have a firm date. We expect that it will be some time in the fall. Before the raise and retro can be processed, the following things need to happen:

1. SHARE members ratify the contract - DONE
2. SHARE negotiators sign Memorandum of Understanding - DONE
3. UMMS negotiators sign Memorandum of Understanding - DONE
4. Agreements from MOU merged into existing contract language:
• UMMS edit contract - DONE
• SHARE review and respond - DONE
• meeting to iron out remaining questions - DONE
5. SHARE representatives sign merged contract language - DONE
6. UMMS management representatives sign merged contract language - DONE
7. University of Massachusetts HR and President sign merged contract language - DONE
8. UMMS HR compensation and Payroll process the raises - DONE

This whole process usually takes much longer than anyone expects. The piece that we have the least influence over is the timing of step 7. We will keep this site updated about the progress, and we appreciate your patience.

Q. Will the retro be paid in a regular paycheck or a separate check?

A. The retro will be paid in a regular paycheck. This may increase the rate at which taxes are withheld in that check. If taxes are taken out at a higher rate than you actually owe, you will get the extra back when you file your taxes (or you will owe less).

Q. Will retirement benefits be withheld from the retro?

A. Yes. Retirement benefits will be taken out, and the amount of the retro will count towards retirement.

Q. What if I transfer or leave before the raise and retro are delivered?

A. There are a few possible situations:

• If you transfer within SHARE, you will still get the raise and retro. 
• If you transfer out of SHARE to a non-union UMMS position, and miss both the SHARE raise and the non-union raise, we have an agreement with the Medical School that we will meet to discuss what to do.
• If you would like to discuss your situation, please email jana.hol@theshareunion.org.

"Yes" to the SHARE Contracts

The SHARE contracts were approved today by an overwhelming Yes vote:

• 98% voted yes on the 3-year contract (July, 2013-June, 2016) and 
• 96% voted yes on the 2-year contract (July, 2016-June 2018).

We also had a high turnout, with 276 members voting, which is 60% of the SHARE bargaining unit.

Congratulations to everyone, and thanks for coming out to vote!

Thursday, July 24 Ratification Vote

Our proposed contract agreements are tentative until they are ratified by SHARE members.  
Please come to vote at one of the locations below on your break or lunch. If you have questions about the proposed agreements, please call the SHARE office at 508-929-4020.

Campus	Time	Room
Main Campus	10am-4pm	Old School Lobby
South Street	10:30am-2pm	USA Conference Room
Biotech One	10:45-11am	1st floor lobby
Biotech Two	9:30-10:30am	Cafeteria 2nd floor
Biotech Four	2:30-3pm	Lobby
BNRI	12:30am-1:15pm	Animal Med break room
BNRI	11:30-12:15pm	2nd floor conference room
Maple Ave	9-9:30am	Chang Conference Room 201 (right off lobby)
Memorial	11-11:30am	Family Med Conf Rm, Jaquith Ground (1st on right coming from Hospital)
Psych CCU	7am-8am	1st Floor Conference Room
Psych CCU	2:30pm-4pm	1st Floor Library [location change]

NOTES about the vote:

Membership: You must be a SHARE member to vote on the contract. If you have not signed your membership card, you can sign up at the polls.

Vote Locations: Any SHARE member can vote at any location. If you have questions about voting, or work at a location not listed, please email Elisabeth at the SHARE office: elisabeth.szanto@theshareunion.org or call 508-929-4020 ext. 10. 

Absentee Ballots: We are sorry, but our election rules do not allow absentee ballots.

Vote Count: Everyone is welcome to join us for the ballot count at 4:00pm on Thursday, July 24, in S1-123 in the old School building.

Contract Agreement

We are happy to announce that the SHARE negotiating team has made a tentative contract agreement with UMMS. We will hold a ratification vote on Thursday, July 24. A “yes” vote by a majority of the SHARE members voting makes the agreement official.

Highlights of the agreement:

• 5 years (June 2013-June 2018) with annual raises, including raise for last year retroactive to June 30, 2013, and raise for this year retroactive to June 29, 2014
• Progressive “floor” raise protects lower paid employees; increases in grade maximums every year provides raise to base for people at max; structural increases for anyone falling too far behind in their grade; and additional lump sum bonuses in 2015, 2016 and 2017 for Exceeds or Outstanding performance review
• Childcare fund continues with funding every year
• Current employees continue to receive 3 Personal Days per year
• Holidays still count toward 40 hours needed for overtime
• No change in overtime rules for three 24-hour or 7-day departments: Psychiatry CCU, Animal Medicine, and Public Safety
• Joint Labor-Management committee on Career Development and Training
• No increase in parking rates without discussion with the union
• Agreement is actually two contracts, a 3-year contract and a 2-year contract, which will be voted on at the same time. (State law does not allow contracts longer than 3 years.)

This was a difficult negotiation, and our agreement would not have been possible without the active participation of hundreds of SHARE members. By responding to the surveys, wearing SHARE buttons, staying informed and giving feedback, keeping coworkers up-to-date and signing the beautiful “We Make a Difference” poster, members showed that they were paying attention and supporting their negotiating team. We believe this is the best agreement we could get at this time and we are recommending a “yes” vote.

Click here for a detailed explanation of the topics above and others. You will also receive a copy of all of this information in the mail. Please read it, ask your questions, and don’t forget to vote on July 24!

Times and locations for information meetings, and for the ratification vote, are below. There is also one more meeting this week, Thursday (July 11), at South Street, 12-2, in the USA conference room.

Sincerely,

The SHARE Negotiating Team:

Kathy Bateman                        Andrea Caceres                       Kirk Davis                   

Deb Engvall                             Jana Hollingsworth                 Sherry Nguyen            

Kris Rondeau                           Elisabeth Szanto                      Dianne Williams

Contract Information Meetings Please come on your lunch break to whatever portion of the meeting that you can. The agenda will last 30 minutes and then start again.      Tuesday, July 15          South Street     England CR                     12-2pm      Wednesday, July 16     Animal Med     AMED LRB Break Rm   12-1pm      Wednesday, July 16     Pysch CCU     CCU Conf Room             2:30-3:30pm      Thursday, July 17         LRB                Michaelson CR                12-2pm      Friday, July 18             Animal Med     AMED A-level CR          11:30-1pm      Monday, July 21          South Street     England CR                     12-2pm      Wednesday, July 23    Sherman           AS5.2072                       12-2pm If none of these meetings work for you, give us a call at the SHARE office at (508) 929-4020. We'd be happy to answer any questions you have, or to set up an additional meeting time in your particular area.

Ratification Vote – Thursday, July 24 The proposed contract is only a tentative agreement until it is ratified by SHARE members. Please come and vote on your break or lunch at one of the locations below.  You must be a SHARE member to vote on the contract. If you have not signed your membership card, you can sign up at the polls. Main Campus    10am - 4pm             Old School Lobby South Street       10:30am - 2pm        USA Conference Room                                    Psych CCU         7am - 8am               1st Floor Conference Room Psych CCU         2:30pm - 4pm          2nd Floor Conference Room Other Locations: Any SHARE member can vote at any location. SHARE members who work at offsite locations are welcome to vote at the Main Campus or at South Street, however we will also be arranging voting opportunities for members at the following offsite locations: Maple Ave Shaw Building Biotech One, Biotech Two, Biotech Four; Biotech Five Worcester State Hospital campus buildings other than CCU 328 Shrewsbury St Memorial Bedford  & N Quincy If you have questions about voting at an offsite location, or work at a location not listed above, please email Elisabeth at the SHARE office: elisabeth.szanto@theshareunion.org or call 508-929-4020 ext. 10.

Everyone is welcome to join us for the ballot count 

at 4:00pm on Thursday, July 24, 

in S1-123 in the old School building.

We are sorry, but our election rules do not allow absentee ballots.

Contract Update

The SHARE negotiating team will have good news to announce next week. Join us at an information meeting on Tuesday at the main campus or Thursday at South Street. We wish you and your family a happy and safe Holiday weekend!