Mass. Teachers Association blasts UMass Amherst for hundreds of job cuts
“Public higher education administrators are behaving more like corporate CEOs than protectors of the public good."
After UMass Amherst announced “indefinite” furloughs for hundreds of staff coming in September, with possibly hundreds more layoffs in the future, the Massachusetts Teachers Association publicly criticized the university, saying that the cuts aren’t necessary.UMass announced the cuts on Thursday, noting that almost 850 staff members – including those who operate dining halls or work in the residence halls – will be placed on furlough on Sept. 13. Another 450 staff members could face layoffs within the next few weeks, according to a letter from university Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy to the community.The cuts are in response to an estimated $168.6 million loss in the university’s budget due to lost revenue from housing and dining, and a decline in tuition revenue, the letter said. To resolve this, the university instituted a hiring freeze, as well as “deep cuts in discretionary spending,” and some pay cuts for senior campus leaders. There was also an “early retirement” program that 250 employees took.But that still left a deficit of roughly $47.8 million, leading to the workforce cuts. Even with the cuts, UMass Amherst is dealing with a $20.3 million deficit officials hope the state or federal government will step in to help with, according to the letter.But the MTA says the furloughs and potential layoffs are “not only reckless but completely unnecessary.”The MTA noted that the state Legislature has provided funding to UMass “at current levels” and the university system received over $3 million from the CARES Act, with potentially more federal funding on the way, according to a press release.The association is concerned the cuts at the UMass flagship campus could lead other higher education institutions to take similar measures.“Public higher education administrators are behaving more like corporate CEOs than protectors of the public good,” the release said. “Confronted with the loss of some revenue, administrators are turning to draconian cuts when instead they should be seeking creative solutions and taking advantage of reserve accounts.“The workers losing their jobs in Amherst may not be needed this semester for certain tasks that are required when more students are living and present on campus. However, there are many other needs to be met — from preparing the campus for the gradual return of all students and workers to addressing years of deferred maintenance to creating community-wide mutual assistance programs. Our public colleges and universities can still very much serve the communities as our state rebuilds and heals.”
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