Letter from SHARE to UMass Chan Medical School
SHARE sent the following email to management on 4/11/2022, proposing that the $1,750 COVID Appreciation Bonus for non-union employees should be extended to SHARE members.
I am writing to propose a next step in our contract negotiations.
As you know, the Medical School announced on March 24 that non-union staff would receive a 2% increase retroactive to March 1, an additional 2.75% increase effective July 1, and a one-time COVID appreciation payment of $1,750, to be delivered April 15.
The announcement came as we were about to begin our negotiations for a new SHARE-UMMS contract. SHARE members are glad to see that their non-union coworkers are getting larger, earlier base raises than has become the norm in recent years, and we look forward to negotiating with you about raises for SHARE members, along with other contract issues. SHARE members were, however, dismayed and hurt that UMass Chan Medical School would recognize their non-union employees for their work throughout the pandemic, with a $1,750 COVID appreciation bonus, and not their union employees. The omission felt divisive.
We understand that omission may not have been intentional: it may not have been obvious to UMass Chan senior leadership that SHARE members would feel so hurt by being excluded from the COVID appreciation payment, and it is also possible that there was not enough time before the announcement for UMass to propose that SHARE members should receive the bonus as well.
All UMass Chan employees have been through a difficult two years together – emotionally, physically, and financially – and they have pulled together to keep the mission of the Medical School on track throughout the pandemic. All UMass Chan employees are facing the financial challenges that come with inflation, including the rising costs of housing and fuel that have a disproportionate impact on lower paid employees. It seems only fair that SHARE members should also be recognized now for their contributions and sacrifices. Over the last two weeks, SHARE members have come to member meetings, exchanged emails, talked one-to-one and in small groups, and finally voted overwhelmingly on how to respond to the University’s announcement.
SHARE proposes that UMass Chan Medical School extend the $1,750 COVID appreciation payment to SHARE members now, as soon as it is possible to implement, while we continue to move forward with contract negotiations.
I look forward to your speedy reply. Please let me know if you have any questions.