Co-Sponsors of SGA Resolution in Support of AFSCME Speak Out

During their October 22, 2020 meeting, the Frostburg State University Student Government Association unanimously passed a resolution in solidarity with the AFSCME Local 239 employee union. Co-sponsored by SGA President Noah DeMichele, Vice President Jessica Thayer, Student Affairs Chair Delanie Blubaugh, and Senator Ismerai Reyes, the resolution can be found here.

Each of the four co-sponsors of the resolution spoke during the meeting to offer their support for AFSCME Local 239 and the 12 employees of Frostburg State University who received layoff notices earlier in the week after negotiations between FSU and AFSCME reached a breaking point.

Noah DeMichele, SGA President: “In this time especially, it is imperative to protect employees at Frostburg State University. The staff at FSU were critical in giving students the ability to come back, and stay, on campus. I hope that clearer heads can prevail, and layoffs can be avoided.”

Jessica Thayer, SGA Vice President: “The staff and faculty of FSU show a genuine commitment to the prosperity of this University and its students, day in and day out. They keep us safe, inspire student success, and keep our University running. During times of adversity, leaders are looked upon to provide guid

ance and support. FSU needs to answer the call and provide the resources that are so desperately needed in order for these workers to keep their livelihoods.”

Delanie Blubaugh, SGA Student Affairs Chair: “The choice to layoff 12 employees rather than to ask the University System of Maryland and Chancellor Perman to release just 1% of FSU’s fund balance is an egregious disservice to the Frostburg community. The people the administration has chosen to layoff are loyal employees, some of which are alumni of the institution or have served for decades at FSU. In fact, some of these people have been integral in keeping this institution open in the middle of a global

pandemic. The fund balance is, ostensibly, to act as an emergency reserve account for situations and emergencies such as what we are currently living through. For the administration not use these funds to save the jobs — and livelihoods — of 12 employees is extremely disheartening. This resolution is imperative in urging the administration to rescind their layoff notices and salary reduction plan, and I pledge my full support.”

Ismerai Reyes, SGA On-Campus Senator: “As many of us navigate the consequences of the pandemic it is important we continue to advocate for those affected and continue to be affected. It is with great

heartbreak that we found out that many members of our FSU community would be laid off in order to account for revenue loss the previous year. Many of those laid off are alumni graduates and faculty who have spent years severing this university and our campus. People’s livelihood should never be threatened with a covid-struck economy and high unemployment. As a student leader I empathize with staff and recognize that while we may be going through different issues, facing this pandemic in itself is difficult, nonetheless, without a job.”