MSCA: Salem Chapter

01/22/2025

The Massachusetts Teachers Association is pushing for the right to legally strike, minimum teaching salaries of $70,000, and other key issues that have prompted teachers in more than a half dozen districts to hit the picket lines.

We understand the MTA bill would allow teachers’ strikes in higher education, as well.

The MTA is making the push less than one year after the Legislature derailed a similar bill that would have allowed teachers to legally strike.

11/27/2024

Our wins!

11/14/2024

Please join us for a standout tomorrow (Fri.) near campus from 1 pm - 1:30 pm in support of North Shore educator unions. (Beverly, Marblehead, and Gloucester are on strike this week.)

The gathering will take place at the intersection of Lafayette and Loring near the Sullivan Building.

Parking is available at a large public lot down the street at Forest River Park (32-38 Clifton Avenue, Salem, MA).

02/14/2024

Show your 💙 for high-quality, debt-free public higher ed by sharing this post on Valentine's Day.

04/13/2022

Holyoke Community College students are paying 37% of the cost of the current 5-year capital improvement project through additional per-credit-fees. Can HCC student afford this? Is this fair?

According to testimony in 2019 provided to the Massachusetts Legislature by Dr. Patricia Gentile, President of the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges “Massachusetts Community Colleges have a need of more than $1.3 billion in deferred maintenance for the existing facilities among the 15 community colleges. Dr. Gentile testified that there is a growing gap in educational opportunities for Massachusetts residents who come from low-income families and communities of color. The 15 state community colleges serve the largest portion of people of color and lower income individuals than any other sector, public or private. Dr. Gentile concluded that community colleges in Massachusetts are “the engines of opportunity for underserved students.” Without significant investment, teaching spaces will continue to be outdated and of poor quality.

Come to Thursday's 6:30pm Campus Debt Reveal to learn about the Commonwealth's disinvestment in its public campuses https://fb.me/e/1gSibEjtO

04/12/2022

Salem State awards the most STEM degrees of the Mass Public State Colleges. However, Meier Hall built in the 1960's, which houses most of our arts and science classrooms, it is not modernized and has serious HVAC issues. Several proposals to the Commonwealth's Dept. of Capital Asset Management to renovate Meier and add a new science wing were rejected in the past decade.

A new proposal under review asks for an addition of 7-8 new wet labs (but no renovation of existing Meier Hall) and includes the relocation of the College of Health and Human Services to a former elementary school on campus. We are told that this Bold Project will be funded only about 50% by the Commonwealth?! Salem State students deserve healthy, modern instructional facilities paid for by the state and not through student fees, debt financing and private fundraising. The Commonwealth owns SSU's land and buildings and should bear the brunt of capital costs.

Come to Thursday's 6:30pm Campus Debt Reveal to learn about the Commonwealth's disinvestment in its public campuses https://fb.me/e/1gSibEjtO

04/11/2022