On Wednesday, February 17, SHARE held back-to-back half-hour meetings for members, at 12:00, 12:30, and 1:00. People dropped in on their lunch break. The meetings are generally held on the third Wednesday of the month. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 17. We will send an email reminder with the Zoom link in March.
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 2/17/2021 (12:00-1:30)
Zoom basics: Speaking, Using the Chat, Mute/Unmute, Using Video
Introductions – name, department, where you are working from (home, on site, mixed)
Agenda:
1. Raises
most SHARE members’ pay rates will be corrected in this week’s check, the rest soon
contact a SHARE organizer if you have questions about your raise
2. June 21 is the deadline to use emergency comp time earned by working on-site in the spring (March 16, 2020 - May 23, 2020)
3. Union Strength – feedback, suggestions for improvement, what do you hear from co-workers about SHARE these days
People ask questions about the raise corrections
Benefit of virtual meetings for people in small locations – continue these even when pandemic is over
People are glad we are on top of the raises
Advocacy for vaccinating employees? Help getting access? Students getting vaccine – do they all have access to the hospital? Are they all helping with the vaccination program? Will there be more help from UMass when there is more vaccine?
4. Townhall takeaways – discussion topics
Parking – address in next contract? 3 mos penalty to get back in if you cancel – unfair – empty threat? What is the alternative? Shuttle from main campus? Reduced rate to keep your place in line? Rebate?
Vaccines - med school doesn’t have any to distribute. Hospital gave us some for patient-facing staff. Worcester State site – Med students volunteering to help Tues-Sat 9am-5:30pm for whoever is eligible according to the state. Taking other volunteers, skilled and unskilled, and can probably get a vaccine yourself if you are helping out. How is it going to work for coming back? Will you need to be vaccinated?
some of what is said is hard to understand, especially if you are not a doctor
5. Return to office plans from different depts – what are you hearing in different departments?
Not returning “before the end of March” is Med School’s position
Different depts may have difft timelines, depending on how well it is going working from home, what type of work they do
1 admin: Initially said probably through June…? No new info
2 more admins: End of June – general impression but not official
1 Clinical researcher: probably starting to see patients soon (next month?)