November 5, 2022 | FEIXU CHEN
On Oct. 25, when the college board of trustees was meeting inside the Cutler Majestic Theatre, 30 Staff Union members assembled in front of the theater with handwritten signs looking to have a conversation. When cars passed by, drivers honked to pay respect and show support.
According to the staff union, Emerson College has lost 39% of its staff members in two years, and 25% in the past year, partly because of stagnant wages. Staff from colleges and universities have struggled with low morale and income for the past two years since the outbreak of COVID-19.
The dollar had an average inflation rate of 5.10% per year between 2019 and the present, producing a cumulative price increase of 17.90%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and a CPI (Consumer Price Index) inflation calculator created by Ian Webster.
“We are all working doubly or triply hard in our jobs because there’s not enough staff here,” said John-Albert Moseley, Chapter Vice-Chair of the Emerson College Staff Union.
Moseley has been working at Emerson College for nearly ten years. He is now the Program Coordinator of the Visual and Media Arts program. VMA program is the largest undergraduate program at Emerson.
Although the Social Security Administration will give an 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2023, Emerson College still hasn’t done anything to adjust the wages for staff. Members say, because that raise is not enough to offset inflation. As a result, the Emerson College Staff Union decided to take action.
“We want to know how our new contract is going,” said Moseley, “We are asking for basic COLA that meets inflation right now. So we will be able to live in the community where we work.”
After waiting almost an hour outside, members of the Staff Union walked into the theater silently and displayed signs on the seats for the board members to see.
Since 2018, the college has hired Jackson Lewis, a national law firm specializing in workplace law representation, also known as “the No. 1 union-buster in America.”
“The non-unionized staff has been given a raise, but we have not,” said Moseley, “The college is trying to frustrate the union process. It’s often a technique that is used to separate people and not keep them together.”
Moseley and other union members say hiring such an unpleasant anti-union law firm is not a part of Emerson’s values. “It’s not inclusive nor respectful,” Moseley sighed, “Students can do a lot more. As a tuition-driven school, students have the right to tell or ask the college why they are spending money in this way. “
When contacting the school leadership to comment on the Staff Union’s rally and why Jackson Lewis was hiring. Neither William Gilligan, the interim president of Emerson College, nor Eric Alexander, the chair of Emerson College’s board of trustees, replied to an interview request sent via email.
In addition, Anne Shaughnessy, the vice president and chief of staff, declined an interview. “The College is currently in active negotiations with the staff union; therefore, I’m afraid it would not be appropriate to discuss this matter for your class project, at this time,” Shaughnessy wrote.
“I think we are very lucky that we were able to keep our jobs, keep the college going, but we all made major sacrifices. We gave up our raises, we gave up our retirement benefits and a lot of things we gave up during the pandemic to keep the college moving. And I think that's big reason the union is fighting is that we want to be acknowledged for that contribution made to the college.” said Moseley. He is not the only staff member who sacrificed a lot during this difficult time.
“It has made life a lot more stressful and impacted my morale, as well as the morale of the other staff,” said Estelle Ticktin, the administrative associate to the Chair of Communication Sciences & Disorders. “I was already living paycheck to paycheck, being in one of the lower salary grades at the college. I’ve had no ability to save anything over the years, so I’ve had no savings to draw on to get me through this period of exploding prices. They don’t seem to care that we are struggling and that so many of us are leaving because we can’t afford to work here. I love the Emerson community, but it feels like management doesn’t care how many of us leave.”
Estelle wasn’t the only one who got into severe financial issues. Illona Yukhayev, an Instructional Technologist, said, “Everything costs more, groceries, utilities, and I don’t make enough.”
Moseley needs to take care of his husband, who needs medical care at home. He said he is lucky that he can work most of the time remotely now. “If I were to give that up now, I would have to think very carefully about my future and where I’m working.”
Even though the college’s attitude disappoints them, the union members are prepared to fight as long as it takes to get a just contract.
“We are very fortunate to have support from students and faculties. It gives us energy and helps us to know that we can continue being a union with each other because we have support from the community,” said Moseley, “When we receive support from the students that’s exciting because at the end of the day that’s why we are here. We are here for the students and I find it [the support from students] very inspiring.”
Is college an educational institution or a company? That’s a question that Moseley needs to know if he can fully answer. “Although college leaders want the institution to be financially successful, the students and the people connected to the institution have a right to ensure that the return on that is coming back to people.”
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