AMHERST – Despite the snow, labor organizers say about 250 faculty, staff and student workers turned out Thursday for a demonstration about low wages and staffing outside the Whitmore Administration Building on the UMass Amherst campus.
Five unions are in negotiations with the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the state’s flagship public university, with nearly 8,000 members. who demand a fair wage and less onerous working conditions.
Negotiations with the union — the Massachusetts Society of Teachers — take place Friday morning.
“We are dedicated civil servants, enough to work second and third jobs, just to be able to stay at UMass,” said Hannah Bernard, director of the Student Success Communications program. “But eventually, UMass will lose us. In fact, they’re already losing a lot of us, and it’s a total disservice to the students.”
This story will be updated.
About 250 faculty, staff and student workers turned out to protest low wages and staffing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Thursday. Contract negotiations are underway. (Michael Carolan / Special to The Republican)Michael Carolan / Special to The Republican