Greetings
As spring arrives, it’s a good time to look ahead—Summer 2025 will mark our third contract negotiation with the College. With the changing season comes a critical moment for all of us to come together, reflect on our needs, and prepare to make our voices heard.
This negotiation isn’t just a routine check-in. It is our opportunity to push for real improvements in our working conditions, salaries, job security, and more. To make that happen, we need everyone involved. There are many ways you can plug in:
- Joining the bargaining committee
- Helping us research and draft proposals
- Simply staying informed and showing solidarity
Nominations for the bargaining committee (and chapter chair) are open until May 28. Submit the nomination form by May 28.
We’d like to shout-out our new recording secretary, Crystal Gomez, who was elected by acclamation in May. Crystal works in the Social Justice Collaborative, which is still negotiating its contract with the College.
In a climate where higher education feels increasingly uncertain and top-down decisions are being made, our union gives us the power to shape our workplace. Spring reminds us that growth is possible, but only if we tend to it. Let’s grow something stronger, together.
In solidarity,
Your Union Officers, Daniel, Crystal, Kim, and Illona
Welcome, New Members
- Lex Amaris, Financial Aid Counselor, Financial Aid
- Julius Brown, Assistant Manager, Journalism Production Center, IT
- Ian Flynn, Assistant Director, Financial Aid
- Shyan Fuller, Financial Aid Counselor, Financial Aid
- Kat Klima, Student Employment Counselor, Financial Aid
- Nina Leone, Associate Director, Financial Aid Systems and Technology, Financial Aid
- Barrett Nightingale, Counselor, Student Accounts
- PJ Ouma, Assistant Director (Undergraduate), Financial Aid
- Roza Peretta, Assistant Director (Speech@Emerson), Financial Aid
- Caroline Slade, Assistant Director, Student Accounts
- Derek Taylor, Assistant Director, Financial Aid
- Karen Uminski, Senior Assistant Director, Student Accounts
- May Wu, Assistant Director, Program and Student Support, Academic Affairs
Farewell from the Chair (2023–2025)
I will be stepping down as chapter chair of the Emerson Staff Union, Local 888, SEIU, effective May 1, 2025.
This decision has been made after careful consideration of both our personal circumstances and the needs of our union moving forward. The current political climate has created challenges that may impact my family’s well-being, and I believe it’s prudent to prioritize my own health at this time. Additionally, as we approach the 2025 contract cycle, I recognize the importance of ensuring our union has leadership with the capacity to commit to this critical process fully.
I leave this position with immense pride in what we’ve accomplished together:
- Establishing and adopting comprehensive bylaws
- Creating greater gender diversity amongour officers
- Expanding our bargaining unit in both expected and surprising ways
- Successfully winning the 7 @75% initiative
- Navigating a reduction-in-force with minimal impacton our membership
- Developing new leadership talent, particularly within the Staffing and JLM committees
I am also proud to have helped to negotiate our two contracts and to have served two terms as chair and one as vice-chair.
The strength of our union has never depended on any single individual. I have complete confidence in our current officers to guide us forward, especially as we prepare for upcoming contract negotiations. I remain fully committed to our union and will continue as an active member and remain ready to support our collective work whenever needed.
In unity, and in continued solidarity,
John-Albert Moseley
New Unit Joins Our Union Family
The union welcomes a section of the Office of the Arts to our family! One hundred percent voted to join the union on January 16. We are so excited to be welcoming more staff to our union. If you’re interested in organizing additional units, please join us for our weekly action meetings. Ask an officer for the Zoom link.
Committee Updates
Joint Labor Management (JLM) and Staffing
In February, the JLM and Staffing committees held a joint meeting to discuss some issues that came to light in the Staffing Committee’s report. Two main topics of the conversation were performance management and professional development opportunities.
HR staff said that participation in the quarterly performance management conversations are low. They said that it’s important for employees and managers to have these conversations so employees know how to advance in their careers. Managers should be helping employees grow and upskill, whether the employees end up using their new skills at Emerson or elsewhere.
Regarding professional development opportunities, HR’s current trainings are underutilized. Attendees agreed that it was important to figure out how to elevate the existing opportunities and remove the barriers to access. HR announced that Workday Learning would be implemented in the early summer. They also said they are available to create specialized training for departments based on their needs.
Election Committee Formed
An election committee was recently established to elect a new chair and to guide the creation of our next bargaining committee. Members are Sami Ahmad, Nancy Howell, Eric Matthews, and Iris O’Connor. Check your May 8 email from the union for nomination info.
NEW: Community Calendar
We’re in very hard times. The 24-hour news cycle overwhelms us with reports of harmful policies enacted against our communities. A group of members recently discussed some ways to create space for us to connect, process, share resources, and also sometimes escape and do fun things. Join #community-calendar on the union’s Slack to get involved and learn about upcoming events.
Currently, there is a recurring Bitch ‘n’ Stitch gathering on Zoom on Fridays at 12:00. Look for upcoming tarot readings and happy hour outings!
New Member Profile
Barrett Nightingale, Counselor, Student Accounts
What are your favorite spring activities? I love going on walks but I’m a real baby about the cold. So I’m really excited to be able to go on walks again now that it’s Spring.
Where did you work prior to Emerson? Prior to Emerson, I worked in the box office for the Huntington Theatre.
Have you been a union member before? No, this is my first union.
Why are you glad that you’re in a union? I’m glad to be in a union because unions are important and powerful political tools/collectives. With the world as it is now, being a part of this powerful force both makes me feel safer and makes me feel like we’re doing important work.
Farewell and Thanks to Our Chair
Our fearless leader, chair John-Albert Moseley, has stepped down for personal reasons. Vice-Chair Dan Crocker expresses his gratitude, which we all share:
I am, and have always been, a preacher’s kid. Though this is no “Amen,” it is certainly time to say “Hallelujah.” John- Albert now steps away from a title he has honored greatly, yet keeps both feet firmly planted in our collective mission to improve Emerson. Few have left deeper impressions on Emerson’s administration than he has.
As someone raised in the church, I find “ecumenical” perfectly describes JA—he consistently champions inclusion, seeks common ground, and pursues collective benefits over exclusive ones. His deep faith extends beyond his religious service to include unwavering belief in us and in me personally.
Working alongside JA means finding new motivation, exceptional support, clearer direction, and deeper confidence in ourselves and our collective potential. He has faced challenges with compassion, resolve, and an unshakable conviction that we can create meaningful and lasting change together.
As he transitions, his example inspires us to continue building on the foundation he helped establish—one where faith in our community’s potential transforms bold dreams into remarkable reality.
We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Eric, our amazing recording secretary, as he steps down for personal reasons. He has been an invaluable resource with his encyclopedic knowledge of our contract and College policies. We are all immensely grateful for his thoughtful and caring service to our members. He has offered to help onboard the new officer once they are elected. We cannot thank him enough for everything he’s done and continues to do for our union!
Farewell and Thanks to Our Recording Secretary
We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Eric, our amazing recording secretary, as he steps down for personal reasons. He has been an invaluable resource with his encyclopedic knowledge of our contract and College policies. We are all immensely grateful for his thoughtful and caring service to our members. He has offered to help onboard the new officer once they are elected. We cannot thank him enough for everything he’s done and continues to do for our union!