Good afternoon. My name is William Vincenti, Negotiations Coordinator for MSUFT Local 1904 and I am addressing you today on behalf of the Local. I am taking the opportunity to speak at this point in the agenda to express the Local’s concern over the additional debt the University is assuming by the issuance of Bonds equal to or less tan $108,000,000 to build new facilities for the Environmental and Life Sciences programs and for the School of Business. While the Union does not dispute the merit or importance of these much needed facilities, it is concerned about the ever increasing debt load that the University continues to accumulate. We trust that the University is prepared to handle this additional debt service without putting an undue burden upon the students by increasing fees and tuition.
Furthermore, the union leadership has noticed the lengths to which the Board of Trustees is willing to go to increase the retirement package for Montclair State employees making over $245,000 per year, by creating a non-NJ Alternative Benefits Program fund. The Union hopes that similar consideration will be given to the less richly paid employees of the university when statewide contract negotiations begin in the coming year.
As a final note for today, I and the other union officers would like to say congratulations to the Faculty and Professional Staff who have been reappointed or granted tenure as a result of their hard work and dedication to the University in the areas of teaching, scholarship and service. The Union wishes them all long and productive careers at Montclair State University.
