Education

Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program

SHARE is very excited to announce this new apprenticeship program in conjunction with UMass Memorial and QCC. Please disregard the pay minimums listed in the flyer and note the pay guidelines at the end of this post, which pertain exclusively to SHARE members. For a printable version of this flyer, click here.

How the pay works for SHARE members who are admitted to the Medical Assistant Registered Apprenticeship program:

The flyer shown above for the Medical Assistant Apprenticeship program only lists the starting pay if you are coming from outside of SHARE. If you are already a SHARE member, your pay rate will be determined by your current grade. The promotional increase rules decide how much your rate would go up. The promotional increase is 5% per grade. (If that math doesn’t land your rate on a platform in the grade, the rate will be rounded up to the next platform.)

Medical Assistant Trainee is a NSG5 title.

Medical Assistant, Certified is a NSG6 title.

  • Example: If you transfer from a NSG3 job, like PCA 1, to the Medical Assistant Trainee title, that’s 2 grades higher. So you would get a 10% increase. You would get an additional 5% when you get certified.

  • Example: If you transfer from a NSG4 job, like PCA 2, to the Medical Assistant Trainee title, that’s 1 grades higher. So you would get a 5% increase. You would get an additional 5% when you get certified.

Note: If you transfer from a title in a higher grade, your pay rate would be decreased 5% per grade.

SHARE Updates: Quarantine, PCA Pathway Program, Scholarships, and more

Dear SHARE member, we heard last week that some people had issues with the email from SHARE, that it went straight into your work-email’s quarantine system.

So! We’re repeating some important scholarship information below, along with an announcement about UMass Memorial’s PCA Pathway Program: refer a friend or family-member to that, and get a $3,000 referral bonus!

Thank you for understanding about the redundancy. And thank you to those who let us know that SHARE emails weren’t getting through smoothly . . .

Patient Care Associate Pathway

Learn more about the PCA Pathway program here

Couillard Fund Scholarships for Nursing Education

Four (4) Couillard Fund Scholarships of $2,500 each will be awarded to active UMMH Medical Center clinical support staff or LPNs currently enrolled in a program leading to an RN licensure. The scholarship deadline is April 8th. Learn more, and apply, here.

Central Mass AFL/CIO College Scholarships

SHARE members again have the opportunity to apply for a valuable education resource: the Central Massachusetts AFL-CIO College Scholarship. The lottery for these scholarships will be open to any SHARE members, as well as children and grandchildren of our members, who will graduate from high school this year and attend college next year. We’d love to see more winners from SHARE this year. Learn more and apply to this fellowship here

UMass Memorial Hospital Named Among World’s Best

In case you missed it, Newsweek recently named the top 100 best hospitals in the world as ranked by an independent data-gathering firm. Fifteen of those hospitals are right here in Massachusetts, including our own UMass Memorial. UMass Memorial works because SHARE members do, and it’s nice to see that hard work recognized. Read more here.

New “Direct FilE” Service makes Filing for Taxes Easier

A new tax filing service called Direct File will allow eligible taxpayers to file their taxes online directly with the IRS—for free. The Direct File service will be available in English and Spanish, works on mobile devices as easily as it does tablets, laptops and desktop computers, and includes direct and dedicated customer support from the IRS. During the 2024 pilot, Direct File will support most simple returns. Learn more here.

2024 Central Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship

The SHARE office recently received the following annual notice from Joe Carlson, President of the Central Massachusetts AFL/CIO, about a really great scholarship opportunity for members. The lottery for these scholarships will be open to any SHARE members, as well as children and grandchildren of our members, who will graduate from high school this year and attend college next year.

TIPS FOR APPLYING

Many SHARE members are familiar with Chloe Belsito, a recipient of the 2022 scholarship, from her virtual performance to convey appreciation for caregivers in the UMass Memorial Gratitude Concert series. Chloe has also been a contestant on American Idol.

Please note that the union affiliation should be identified as AFSCME/SHARE. Members at UMass Memorial (including Marlboro Hospital) are in Local Union Number 3900. Applications should NOT be sent to the SHARE office.

OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Keep your eye on the SHARE blog for more #scholarships. For additional educational opportunities, check out posts tagged #education.

SHARE and UMass Memorial Get Ready to Launch Medical Assistant Registered Apprenticeship

Kellie Morton (SHARE Organizer and Patient Care Associate) and Janet Wilder (SHARE Organizer) at the recent Medical Assistant Apprenticeship press conference

“Many SHARE members want to learn and grow in their careers. But it’s tough to go to school when you have a job, and kids, and bills to pay. Registered apprenticeships are one way to ‘earn and learn,’ which is critical for many SHARE members,” said Janet Wilder, SHARE Organizer at a press conference on Wednesday.

SHARE and UMass Memorial are working together to create career paths for SHARE members to move up in the organization. On Wednesday, our organizations jointly announced an apprenticeship to train medical assistants, starting in the spring of 2024.

Massachusetts Secretary of Labor, Lauren Jones (speaking), with UMass Memorial’s Interim President Justin Precourt, and Director of Workforce Development and Planning, Kelley Aiken

Since our most recent contract negotiations ended – where we increased tuition benefits – SHARE has been working with UMass Memorial to create as many career pathways as possible. SHARE aims for members to have options for growth, and for UMass Memorial to have people to fill positions who are well-trained, who are committed to UMass Memorial and our patients, and who want to stay and grow their careers.

Kelly Aiken, Director of Workforce Development and Planning, UMass Memorial Health, spoke about the new career training programs and how our hospital focuses on “hot jobs,” which are both in high-demand and challenging to fill. Some of those roles include: Medical Assistants, PCAs, and Surgical Technologists.

Massachusetts Secretary of Labor, Lauren Jones, joined-in to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week. It turns out that our Medical Assistant registered apprenticeship will be the first healthcare registered apprenticeship in Central Massachusetts.

“I’ve worked at UMass Memorial for 31 years,” says Kellie Morton, Medical Office Assistant in the Oncology Clinic and part-time SHARE Organizer. “I started with a training class in Home Health offered by the hospital, and I’ve worked my way up. Now I’m a Medical Assistant. It’s been an honor to help to design the Medical Assistant Apprenticeship program. We need more Medical Assistants to fill jobs, and giving opportunities to our own caregivers is huge. We’re excited to help train the new apprentices by precepting them during their on-the-job training. I want everyone to have opportunities!”

The career training programs that we create together – union and management -- will be stronger and better because they take into front-line SHARE members’ experience and knowledge.

If you are interested in the Medical Assistant apprenticeship, watch for more information in the new year. There will be room for 10 students in the first group, and we will grow from there.

UMass Memorial’s Director of Workforce Development and Planning, Kelley Aiken, announces the forthcoming “Earn and Learn” apprenticeship program where employees can advance their schooling and their career while working. Watch the story on local SpectrumNews1.

Couillard Scholarship for PCAs and LPNs

Are you pursuing a nursing degree? SHARE has just learned that the following scholarship opportunity is being made available through UMass Memorial.

Please note that the application deadline is almost here: Friday, November 10!


from the UMass Memorial Department of Nursing Professional Development . . .

On behalf of the Couillard Fund, we have an exciting announcement for Medical Center PCA and LPN Caregivers! 

The Couillard Fund, in collaboration with the Department of Nursing, is excited to be awarding four (4) Couillard Fund nursing scholarships to full time and part time PCA and LPN caregivers who are currently enrolled in a nursing program leading to RN licensure.  We want to encourage those who are working to pursue or advance their nursing practice to apply for this unique opportunity. 

Each scholarship will be awarded in the amount of $2500 which will be paid directly to the winner’s school. 

Submissions can be completed using the online survey monkey link

or paper application below. 


All submissions should be completed by the applicant and emailed to nursingexcellence@umassmemorial.org and/or completed online by November 10, 2023. 

 

Winners will be announced before the end of calendar year 2023. 

We look forward to reviewing your application! 



SHARE Updates: Contract Events, Childcare, Educational Opportunities, and More . . .

CONTRACT DISTRIBUTION EVENTS

Want to curl up with a paper version of the contract in front of the fire?

Get your copy of the red book — and talk with SHARE Organizers about any questions you’ve got — at an upcoming Contract Distribution Event.

  • UNIVERSITY — Tuesday, Sept 12 — Prescription Center hallway (aka “four corners”) — 11:30-1:30

  • MEMORIAL — Tuesday, Sept 19 — across from Cafeteria — 11:30-1:30

If you’d like a SHARE Rep to bring copies of the contract to your department or worksite, please contact SHARE.


Backup Childcare through Bright Horizons

In conjunction with UMass Memorial Hospital, Bright Horizons provides a backup childcare option to employees for holidays, breaks, professional development days, and more. Find more information and apply here.


FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

In last week’s email update, we pointed out that Quinsigamond Community College is working together with the MassReconnect program to offer the opportunity to earn free Associate Degrees and certificates for adults twenty-five years and older. But! The MassReconnect program isn’t limited to QCC: the MassReconnect program means that ALL 15 community colleges in Massachusetts are FREE to students who qualify for this program! Learn more here.


Federal Student Loan Repayments Resume in October

After a pause during the pandemic, federal student loans have again begun accruing interest, and payments will need to be made again beginning in October, to the frustration of many.

Find information and resources for union members belonging to AFSCME (SHARE’s parent union) in this message on the SHARE Blog.


The entire SHARE Contract Bargaining Agreement with UMass Memorial is online

Use the above link to zoom in, read, and print the information you need.

Make it easy, using your browser’s search tools and the SHARE site FAQ’s.



SHARE Labor Day Updates

Happy Labor Day! We hope you’re enjoying the sunshine today, and grateful to those SHARE members who are working on the holiday to take care of patients and our hospital.

Have We Lost the Spirit of Labor Day?

That’s the question asked in this short piece about the history and meaning of Labor Day, who points out that workers’ concerns and needs continue to evolve.

You still sometimes hear claims that unions have outlived their relevance. But SHARE members know that — even with good bosses, in good workplaces — concerns with working conditions continue. Only an independent source of power like a union can provide safe and effective ways for workers’ voices to consistently make a difference at work.

MassReconnect: Free Community College

Quinsigamond Community College is offering the opportunity to earn free Associate Degrees and certificates for adults twenty-five years and older. For more details, and to apply to learn more, visit QCC’s MassReconnect website.

Finding What You Need

The fully-searchable SHARE contract is now online, and distribution events for paper copies will be announced very soon. But do you know how to find what you want to know on the SHARE website?

The site is full of other useful information. We recently added a guide to applying for Leaves of Absence to the “Getting Help” page, for example. You can find that, and a whole lot more, by using the site’s search tools. Still have questions? Contact us!

SHARE Updates: Tuition Reimbursement and Home Ownership Help

Tuition reimbursement: Increased and expanded

The new Tuition Reimbursement and loan repayment assistance policy in the SHARE contract negotiated last Fall increases the amount of money available to a full-time SHARE member from $2000 to $5250 per year. In addition, what’s eligible for reimbursement has expanded from just college courses to include certificate programs, and to include student debt repayment.

For more information, read the full new contract language regarding tuition reimbursement. To talk to someone with your questions, call the UMass Memorial Benefits Contact Center @ 508-334-8511.

DEADLINE Next week! Affordable Home Ownership Opportunities with Habitat for Humanity

ICYMI, UMass Memorial Hospital recently announced that Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester is offering two affordable homeownership opportunities in Sturbridge and Worcester for individuals and families within specific income brackets. If you are in need and meet the eligibility criteria, this could be an excellent opportunity for you. UMass Memorial Health is proud to have partnered with Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester on these projects to support more affordable housing in our region. Through our Anchor Mission, we provided investment to support the construction of the Sturbridge home, and our physicians volunteered in the construction of the Worcester home. Read more on the SHARE website . . .

Habitat for Humanity home nearing completion in Sturbridge

Union Plus Benefits: Home Ownership Help and More

If you’re not making use of Union Plus benefits, you might be missing out. Union Plus can help with home ownership through the Mortgage Assistance program and the Save My Home Hotline, not to mention personal loans and legal assistance. By being a member of a union, you’re also eligible for discounts negotiated on your behalf — from flowers to car rental to movie tickets — and much, much more . . .

SHARE Career Info Session: Careers in Respiratory Therapy

Learn About a Career as a Respiratory Therapist

&

The Respiratory Program at Quinsigamond Community College

Are you looking for a rewarding career that saves lives?

Hear what the job is like right here at UMass Memorial from SHARE Respiratory Therapists

Learn about the training program from Keith Hirst, MS, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, AE-C, FAARC, Respiratory Therapy Program Coordinator & Director, Quinsigamond Community College

Ask your questions & get answers!

SHARE and UMass Memorial are partnering to increase opportunities for SHARE members to learn and grow in their careers at UMass Memorial.


Virtual & IN-PERSON SESSIONS

February 15 — noon-1pm — Zoom meeting

february 22 -- 7p-8p — zoom meeting

february 23 — 2p-2:55p and 3:35-4:30p — room s1-123, University campus


Respiratory Therapists are critical to patient care, and that has been especially true during COVID. There’s currently no wait-list for QCC’s Respiratory Therapy program!

This event is brought to you by SHARE, UMass Memorial Workforce Development, and the Respiratory department.

UMass Memorial to Offer Free Med Term Courses

SHARE has received the following information from UMass Memorial Hospital about this program that can benefit many SHARE members:

Introduction to Medical Terminology

Organization and People Development is partnering with Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) to offer “Introduction to Medical Terminology” to UMMH caregivers.  This 15-week course is available at no cost to caregivers, and credits can be applied toward many of QCC’s healthcare certificate and degree programs. There are no out-of-pocket expenses for caregivers. Tuition, books, and fees for this class will be covered by UMass Memorial Health.

The course is live, online, and instructor-led. There are 15 sessions for a total of 45 learning hours.

Registrations will be processed on a first come, first served basis.

  • Session 1:  November 1st, 2022 - February 14th, 2023     Tuesdays from 6:00 – 9:00 P.M.  

  • Session 2:  January - May 2023                           Day & time TBD based on caregiver interest

See this inquiry form for a course summary, FAQ, and contact information.

ICYMI: UMass Memorial Debt Management Resources & Federal Student Loan Forgiveness

TO:                  UMass Memorial Health Benefits-eligible Caregivers
FROM:            Tod Wiesman, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer
                        Adriana Florez, Vice President, Benefits and Wellness
DATE:             September 9, 2022
SUBJECT:      UMass Memorial Health Partners With Tuition.io for Student Debt Relief Management
 
As part of our efforts to support your professional growth and financial wellness, we are excited to announce our partnership with Tuition.io, our new student loan debt management administrator. Tuition.io will provide support to assist our caregivers with managing student loan debt, including the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. 
 
Time-limited Opportunity for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Caregivers who work at a non-profit organization such as UMass Memorial Health for a minimum of 10 years and who meet specific requirements may qualify for forgiveness of their remaining federal student loan balance through the PSLF program. The U.S. Department of Education is offering a time-limited waiver for this program now through October 31, 2022 that allows borrowers to receive credit for past student loan payments that would not otherwise qualify for PSLF.
 
On September 15, you will receive further details about the limited PSLF waiver opportunity from Tuition.io, as well as more information on how to begin using all the tools available to you through the Tuition.io website. Even if the PSLF program isn’t right for you, Tuition.io can assist with finding other strategies for your specific student debt goals.
 
More information
Join us for an upcoming webinar covering the new Tuition.io benefit at UMass Memorial Health! We'll use this time to walk through the benefit details, platform information, a live demo of the features and a  Q&A period. Preregistration is not required.

Tuesday, September 13, noon to 1 pm via Zoom (Meeting ID: 830 9458 8073; Passcode: 689899)

Tuesday, September 20, 1 to 2 pm via Zoom (Meeting ID: 818 8826 1655; Passcode: 330839)

Monday, September 26, 7 to 8 pm via Zoom (Meeting ID: 846 1328 4307; Passcode: 732928)

 
If you are unable to join, these webinars will be recorded and shared in an upcoming communication. 
 
To learn more about the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, visit the Federal Student Aid website and read these frequently asked questions detailing how Tuition.io can help with the application process.
 
We hope you’ll find these new student debt management tools and programs helpful and we look forward to sharing more information about these new offerings in the coming weeks.

Message about Federal Student Debt Relief from AFSCME

The SHARE office recently received the following good news from our parent union, AFSCME. In addition to the resources named below, you can learn more about student debt relief, including eligibility requirements, at the Federal Student Aid website.

Good news for federal student loan borrowers: This month, the Biden administration again extended the pause on student debt repayment — this time through Aug. 31. That means, instead of federal student loan payments resuming after May 1, borrowers have four more months of reprieve with payments set to start Sept. 1. And the new extension includes a “fresh start” program, which erases the default and delinquency status on late payments for millions of borrowers.

Visit AFSCME’s Student Debt Resource Center to learn about federal student debt relief programs.

Once again, President Joe Biden is showing that he understands the everyday challenges facing working people who are struggling to make ends meet while being saddled with the crushing burden of student debt.

While the pause on student debt repayment is helpful, especially given the economic and health crises caused by the pandemic, more people need relief. Public service workers and all working people struggled to repay mounting debt even before COVID hit. That’s why AFSCME pushed for changes made by the Biden administration in October to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The changes dramatically increased the number of public service workers eligible for student debt relief. More than 100,000 public service workers have already had their debts forgiven.

Visit AFSCME’s Student Debt Resource Center to learn about federal student debt relief programs.

We encourage you to review the requirements for loan forgiveness programs, including these temporary changes to PSLF. To benefit from the changes to PSLF, some borrowers will need to take steps before Oct. 31, 2022.

If you have questions or concerns about your student loans, you should contact your student loan servicer for free help. Contact information for loan servicers is available on AFSCME’s Student Debt Resource page.

Our union will continue to advocate for increased relief for public service workers and all working families. To support AFSCME’s ongoing advocacy work, make sure to visit the AFSCME member student debt resource page and share your story.

We’ll raise our voices together.

In Solidarity,

Nicole Pollard
Executive Assistant to the President, AFSCME

AFSCME Free College Program Discontinued

8.8.22 Update: The free college providers serving Union Plus and the AFSCME Free College Benefit have again suspended some programs. EGCC most recently reported that “Students eligible for the Free College Benefit for the Fall 2022 term are students who had final grade for Spring 22 AND/OR active in courses for Summer 22 OR a new student who registered for Fall 22 courses on or before July 18, 2022.” 

Thank you to the SHARE members who reported to the SHARE staff your difficulties contacting the program, and alerting us to a problem. We will continue to keep our eye on developments and to report about educational opportunities for members. The largest of the free online programs, Eastern Gateway Community College, has been providing ongoing updates here: https://egcc.edu/press-release/

7.28.22 Update: SHARE has received word that currently enrolled students can contact the Student Resource Center, 888-590-9009, if they have questions about their status, including whether they are Pell eligible.

Please disregard the contact information that was included in SHARE’s original post. We apologize for any confusion we caused anyone with that.


The SHARE office has received the unhappy news that the US Department of Education now disallows educational programs such as the ones offered through the AFSCME Free College and UnionPlus benefits. Many SHARE members have benefitted from these programs over the past several years.

Note that in the message below, “By offering this benefit, we learned that a large percentage of our members are eligible for Pell Grants,” which will continue to be available and helpful to members and their families. SHARE will continue to seek out more educational and scholarship opportunities, and to post about them on the SHARE website. Look for the #Education tag.

Read on for the official notice . . .


AFSCME Family:

Today we learned that the US Department of Education notified our “Free College” partners - Eastern Gateway Community College (EGCC), Central State University and Paul Quinn College - that they could no longer offer no-cost college to our members and their families. The Department indicated that the financing of the program for students not eligible for Pell Grants is inconsistent with federal requirements. As a result, new students may not enroll.

There is no financial liability owed by any former or existing students who participated in the program. We are engaged in discussions with the Department and EGCC concerning the continuing education of existing students. Continuation at no cost should not be an issue for any student who qualifies for a Pell Grant. For those who are not Pell eligible, and do not have an alternative source of funding, such as an employer or union trust funded tuition assistance program, we are seeking to continue Free College until their education is complete, but we do not now have an assurance that will be the case.

The Free College program is an outstanding benefit, in some cases life-changing, for AFSCME members and their families. I was proud that we could offer the opportunity to obtain a debt free education to our members and I am committed to finding an alternative program.

By offering this benefit, we learned that a large percentage of our members are eligible for Pell Grants. This federal program provides eligible students with up to $6,895 a year in education assistance depending on various factors such as income, cost of attendance, and full or part-time student status. The grants are portable and can be used at almost any accredited college or university. To find out if you are eligible, you will need to complete an application form and the college’s financial office will calculate your eligibility before you enroll. Click on this link to learn more.

I am sorry to report this disappointing news, but we will make every effort to at least partially fill the void left by the cessation of the Free College program.

Lee Saunders

President

AFSCME

Info Sessions about Your Free College Benefit

As a SHARE member, you and your family qualify for the UnionPlus Free College Benefit. Many SHARE members have already taken advantage of this opportunity and have great things to say about this no-cost way to take college courses online and earn a degree.


The Union Plus Free College Benefit Team has set up a pair of virtual information sessions where they will answer any questions you may have about eligibility, degrees offered, transfer of credits or enrollment process.

Register for one of these sessions now:

Visit freecollege.unionplus.org for more information about Free College.

Federal Student Loan Payment Relief: A Note From AFSCME

In case you missed it, the federal government has extended the Federal Student Loan Payment pause until after May 1 of this year. Our parent union, AFSCME, has been fighting for this, and it’s a great help for many Americans during the pandemic. AFSCME also provides help to individual union members with student debt, as described in this recent letter . . .

Dear member,

If you have federal student loans, there are some important deadlines and updates you should know about.

Millions of federal student loan borrowers have taken advantage of COVID-19 emergency relief and have had their loan payments paused since March 2020. In a victory for working people, President Joe Biden announced that the pause on student loan payments will be extended until May 1, 2022. This means federal student loan borrowers won’t have to start making payments until June 2022.

As your union, AFSCME fought hard to make sure this relief was put into place and that an extension was granted to provide further relief to working families. Public service workers continue to serve on the front lines in the fight against the virus and working families across the country are still struggling to cope with the economic devastation caused by the pandemic.

SHARE YOUR STUDENT DEBT STORY: Tell us why the pause on federal student loan debt payments is important to you and your family.

AFSCME will continue our strong advocacy to provide further student loan relief to working families, but we must also be prepared for a transition back to paying student loans. If you are a federal student loan borrower, we encourage you to read 6 Ways to Prepare for Student Loan Repayment to Begin Again. You can also visit StudentAid.gov/coronavirus to find the most up-to-date information about the restart of student loan payments.

Although the payment pause is scheduled to end, public service workers may be eligible for other student debt relief under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. We encourage you to review the requirements for this loan forgiveness programs, including the recent temporary changes to PSLF, which expand the number of public service workers eligible for loan forgiveness. To benefit from these changes to PSLF, some borrowers will need to take steps before Oct. 31, 2022. Learn more about these PSLF temporary changes at StudentAid.gov/pslfwaiver.

If you have questions or concerns about your student loans, you should contact your student loan servicer for free help. Contact information for loan servicers is available at on AFSCME’s Student Debt Resource page.

We will be reaching out in the New Year with more information about student debt relief. Stay tuned!

In Solidarity,

Nicole Pollard
Executive Assistant to the President