01/05/2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 30, 2025
UMass Lowell Union Coalition to Hold Coordinated May Day Coffee Break and Call for Action to Protect the Future of Public Higher Education
Lowell, MA — On Thursday, May 1 at 11:00 a.m., members of UMass Unions United – Lowell will take coordinated coffee breaks on North (intersection of VFW Highway and University Avenue) and South (outside W**d Hall) campuses to mark International Workers’ Day, defend higher education from cuts and other threats from Washington, and demand that the UMass administration support students and workers.
UMass Unions United-Lowell (UUU) includes: the Classified and Technical Union (CTU/MTA), the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO/UAW), Grants and Contracts Employees (GRACE/MTA), the Maintenance and Trades Union (MTU/MTA), the Massachusetts Society of Professors Lowell (MSP/MTA), SEIU 888 (professional staff), and the Union of Adjunct Faculty (UAF/UAW). The coalition is currently engaged in bargaining across multiple contracts and stands united in demanding better from both university leadership and state officials.
Members are especially concerned about recent threats emerging from Washington and the termination of major grants that support important research and community programs nationally recognized and vital to graduate training, research, and innovation. Without forceful advocacy from UMass Lowell and the UMass President’s Office, the campus risks losing the infrastructure that builds the future for the Merrimack Valley and beyond.
In addition, intensified immigration crackdowns are sowing fear across campus communities. International students and workers are living with growing uncertainty and PhD recruitment and talent retention are already compromised. Without strong protections and leadership, UMass Lowell might lose the very people who help our institutions thrive.
In addition, union members across many bargaining units are currently negotiating contracts that address the urgent need for fair pay and sustainable workloads. UMass Lowell workers—faculty, staff, adjuncts, and graduate employees—are united in calling for salaries that reflect the high cost of living in Massachusetts and appropriate workloads that allow them to successfully do the essential work to support students and the university’s mission.
The Massachusetts Commission on Higher Education Quality and Affordability (CHEQA) recently shared data reflecting the low pay for Massachusetts public higher education employees, the high turnover, and the difficulty in filling these positions. As the Commission noted, many of these employees, including UML employees, are forced to take on second jobs or teach excessive course loads just to make ends meet. Instead of investing in the workforce, UMass continues to float benefit cuts and short-term fixes. The unions demand contracts that retain benefits, raise pay, and reduce unreasonable workloads.
On May Day, workers at UMass Lowell are standing up for a better path forward.
“We are proud to serve our students and community,” said Adam St. Jean, incoming vice president of the Mass. Society of Professors Lowell. “But pride doesn’t pay the bills. We’re taking this coffee break to remind the public and our leaders that a strong university depends on investing in its people and protecting it from political threats that would undermine its future.”
All are welcome to join the action on May 1 at 11:00 a.m. on North (intersection of VFW Highway and University Avenue) and South (outside W**d Hall) campuses to stand in solidarity with the faculty, staff, and graduate workers whose labor keeps UMass Lowell running.
UMass Unions United – Lowell
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Press contacts:
Adam St. Jean, Bargaining Team co-chair, Mass. Society of Professors, Lowell/MTA (MSP) Board Member, MTA Board member, and incoming Vice President of the MSP in Lowell. - [email protected]
Thomas Estabrook, President of the Grants and Contacts Employees union (GRACE/MTA) - [email protected]
Ellen Michaud Martins, President of the Union of Adjunct Faculty (UAF-UAW), [email protected]
Massachusetts Teachers Association UAW International Union SEIU Local 888 UMass Lowell SEIU 888 UMass Lowell Union of Adjunct Faculty (UAF/UAW)
