Salem State To Furlough Faculty, Librarians 3 Weeks

SALEM, MA — The union representing Salem State University faculty members and librarians is fighting a forced three-week furlough the university said it hopes will help cut into a projected $26 million budget gap.

Massachusetts State College Association Salem Chapter President Tiffany Chenault told Patch an unfair labor practices complaint was filed Friday to the state Department of Labor Relations in objection to the furloughs, while the university said in a statement to Patch that the three weeks are in line with furloughs that were negotiated with other unions at the school, and that the MSCA "declined numerous official requests to meet between June and October."

"Our initial proposal to all three unions was for five furlough weeks," Salem State University President John Keenan said in the statement, "but following discussions with (the Association of Professional Administrators) and (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) and an encouraging revenue picture, we have reduced the maximum required furlough time to three weeks for faculty, staff and administrators, including myself.

"To limit interruptions for students, the university has designated furlough weeks for faculty members during times when classes are not in session."

Chenault said the union declined to enter negotiations because the size of any budget gap was unknown at the time and it had a right to decline negotiations until it had more information.

"We didn't have all the facts and evidence in money coming from the state, money from the government," she said. "There were so many financial unknowns that we said no."

She argued that level funding from the state and stable enrollment could allow the university to meet its obligations without furloughs, and questioned why Salem State is the only university in the system to require furloughs.

"There were a lot of questions that weren't being answered so we said we are not going to even entertain it," she said.

The school said the furloughs will save the university $8.5 million.

"Exempting faculty and librarians from these furloughs would be tremendously unfair to the APA, AFSCME, and non-union employees who have been participating in furloughs throughout the summer and fall," Keenan said. "I realize that some have questioned the legality of requiring faculty to take part in Salem State's furloughs; we are confident that we are on firm legal ground and respect the rights of MSCA to question this position."

Chenault accused the university of pitting one union against each other and said the faculty and librarians "sacrificed" for the university through spending the summer setting up alternative and remote classes and programs to help students and the school through the pandemic.

"We are still pushing for our students," she said. "Our fight for our students has not stopped and will not stop. That's why we're here."

The furloughs come at a time when the university is also dealing with a recent bump in coronavirus cases that a university spokesperson told Patch on Thursday has caused it to switch classes to remote learning the week leading into Thanksgiving and to cancel athletic practices and indoor exercise classes.

"These furloughs are challenging for our colleagues across campus and we are committed to making this shared sacrifice in an equitable way," Keenan said.

More Patch Coverage: Salem State To Go Online Ahead Of Thanksgiving Break