AMHERST — Dozens of unionized university employees lined the hallway leading to the University of Massachusetts Amherst chancellor’s office Wednesday to demand fair contracts.
For almost a year, the University Staff Association has been in negotiations with the university’s administration to ensure staff contracts are adjusted to meet the cost-of-living, which is only increasing.
“I live with four other roommates to afford being here in Amherst,” said Andrea Lydick, special projects coordinator for the union.
Just before the rally on Wednesday, union members were in talks with the university about their contracts, said Lydick, who is a silent bargaining member.
Rather than listening to union members’ demands, “management is doubling down,” she said. “They want us to backpedal, but we’re not giving up.”
The Republican has reached out to UMass administration for comment.
Kyle Chambers, vice president of the union, said the university administration “weaponized time and acted in bad faith” during the negotiations with union members Wednesday.
The union filed a complaint with the state Department of Labor Relations regarding the university’s handling of the negotiations, he said.
By 12:15 p.m., the hallway on the second floor of the Whitmore Administration Building leading to Chancellor Javier Reyes’ office was packed with more than 75 members of the University Staff Association and other unions representing university employees or school district employees from across the state.
Union members and allies stood shoulder-to-shoulder, holding protest signs about how the university has handled the negotiations. Some shared stories about how they have to work multiple jobs to be able to pay their bills or to support themselves.
“This university is carried on the backs of union workers,” said Camila Hwang-Carlos, a union member, into a bullhorn. “We want dignity and respect, like any other co-workers.”
If the union’s demands are met by the university, the administration would have to pay employees retroactively back to January to meet the cost-of-living expenses.
“We are the university, we are the schools,” said Lydick. “Coming together is power.”
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