Raises for U. Mass-Amherst Librarians and Faculty

Lt. Gov. Kerry M. Healey yesterday signed a bill providing long-awaited raises for more than 2,000 faculty and other workers at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
Dan Clawson, professor of sociology and president of the 1,200-member faculty and librarians union---Massachusetts Society of Professors --, said yesterday he was delighted.
Faculty, librarians, clerical and technical workers on the Amherst campus will receive 2 percent raises backdated to April 2005. Additional 2 percent raises are backdated to January 2006 and will take effect in January 2007.

The contracts begin on July 1, 2004 and will expire on July 1, 2007. The administration of Gov. W. Mitt Romney insisted that any raises be delayed until April 2005, Clawson said.

Union members worked almost two years without a contract. "This state cannot make up its mind to make a commitment to higher education," Clawson said. The average faculty member probably makes about $70,000, he said. There's also a provision in the contract for merit pay for faculty.