All MSP members are strongly encouraged to attend a meeting on December 1 at noon in the Amherst Room of the Campus Center .  PLEASE RSVP BY NOVEMBER 23 SO WE CAN RESERVE LUNCH FOR YOU.  At this meeting we will discuss and vote on the principles that guide our bargaining platform for the coming round of negotiations.  Using results from the bargaining survey, the MSP contract committee worked hard to develop these principles and the MSP executive board has now approved them for a vote of the membership.  We will also vote on final approval for going forward on a new contract that puts salary money on base in lieu of one time money as described in previous emails. 

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!!!

1.  Through the diligent efforts of the MTA, the tireless work of Donnie McGee, and the excellent local campus organizing by Cynthia Baldwin, the ORP conversion legislation has passed both houses, survived the conference process, and is now awaiting only the Governor’s signature and final IRS clearance.  This bill will allow MSP members who enrolled in the Optional Retirement Program to buy back into the state retirement system.  This is a huge victory and will help secure a reasonable retirement for many MSP members.  We will send out more information and provide assistance at a later date. 

2.  Through the excellent efforts of PHENOM, with considerable help from Ellen Story, the casino bill that is about to be on the Governor’s desk contains language to assure that new money will flow to public higher education.  This language was absent from the bill just a couple of months ago, and now is about to be signed into law.  This represents the first new source of funds for public higher education to be created in quite some time.

Thanks to all who helped in these efforts!!!
Randy Phillis   MSP President
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