On Wednesday, 9/16/2020, we had back-to-back half-hour meetings for SHARE members. People dropped in when they could between 12:00 and 2:00. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 21. We will send an email reminder with the link when we are closer to the date.
For those who were not able to attend, below are the agenda topics (numbered) and some of the things that came up in discussion (the bulleted points). Please let us know if you have any questions.
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SHARE Member Meeting Notes - Wednesday 9/16/20 12:00-2:00pm
Using Zoom - Quick overview on Muting/Unmuting, Video, using the Chat, etc. for computer or phone
Introductions – name, department, and where you are working from now (on-site or home or mixed)
SHARE’s birthday & being a union during a pandemic – staying in touch, solving problems, negotiating…
We formed the union 23 years ago so that people could support each other and have a say in decisions that affect them
One-to-one conversations and group meetings build relationships, and that keeps our union strong
The pandemic has changed the ways we interact with each other, it’s easy to feel disconnected
The first 2 months were spent deciding together at meetings how to handle the raise/furlough/contract extension question
The next 4 months we were helping individuals with issues about work, working from home, balancing childcare, and following up on some compensation issues from before the pandemic
As a union, we are better at doing things than we are at reporting on what we do
Suggestions of what would help: periodic meetings like the town halls; written agendas and updates
Please email Elisabeth if you have other suggestions
Flu vaccine – legality & exemption questions
UMass is requiring flu vaccine for all employees this year with 3 exceptions: 1. You have a medical reason that you can’t get the shot; 2. You have a strongly held religious belief that prevents you from getting the shot; 3. If you do not ever work on campus during the flu season then it is strongly recommended but not required
UMass Memorial has the same policy
Is it legal? Yes. The MNA (Mass Nurses Association) took this issue to court in 2018 when the Brigham instituted the same basic policy, and lost
Does it mean that employees could be forced to get a COVID vaccine? No. The flu vaccine has been around for a long time and there is a lot of evidence about its risks and benefits. We don’t know yet whether there will be a COVID vaccine or, if there is one (or more), how effective and safe it will be. The Medical School leadership is not speculating about what they would think about a COVID vaccine, and the courts have not ever ruled on the question.
There will be opportunity to get vaccine at work. Also ok to get it from your doctor or CVS or wherever and bring documentation to prove it.
SHARE is following up with HR on some questions
Furlough update
A small number of the furloughed people have been called back to work
Another small group are doing temp work in testing program
Others are looking for work or waiting to hear if they will be called back to their old departments
Unemployment benefits have been a giant pain in the neck, with people going up to 6 weeks with their payments on hold (this is because of the fraud issue in the news, the Dept of Unemployment Assistance is going back and triple checking claims even after they have been approved)
SHARE holds a weekly Zoom meeting for furloughed employees to share information and tips for dealing with DUA, and to give each other moral support
Departments have to either call people back by the end of November, or completely lay them off
Some people are starting to hear from their departments that they will be called back to work
Work from home
At the Town Hall meeting we heard again that most people will continue working as they are, at least through 12/31/20. After that it depends on how the pandemic is going.
People are struggling with supervising their kids’ school work and working themselves
Rep and executive board roles – more reps make a stronger union: everyone connected & multiple perspectives
The more the merrier. Please contact a SHARE staff person if you want to get more involved or talk about what it would mean to be more involved
Anything else…
Have we heard anything about whether the raise will be delivered this year? No. If the non-union employees get a raise, then SHARE members will get our raise too. But we have not heard anything about whether there will be a raise this year.
The Medical School ended the year in the black, which is good news