ORP Participants  -  Important Pending Legislation
We want to alert you to an important piece of pending legislation that would allow members of the Optional Retirement Plan to (re-)enter the State Employee Retirement System.  The bill will be reported out of committee on November 18.  If this is important to your future, you need to take action now. Please see the attachment and contact Myrna Cronen at mcronen@comdis.umass.edu for more information.

Social Security Offset

Our national union (NEA) is collecting data about the impact of current federal law that reduces Social Security benefits of public sector workers in Massachusetts and some other states that do not collect Social Security taxes from state employees.  Please take a few minutes to complete this survey as it will help build the case for important changes to these laws:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=3DAJsFv_2b_2bqviVEv89PRmsSiw_3d_3d

Rec Center Fees

Many faculty, staff and graduate students have been upset about the dramatic increase in user fees for the Recreation Center.  MSP, together with the other campus unions, has filed a demand to bargain over this issue.  While the administration appears less than eager to bargain, the fee has now been adjusted to $340/12 months, a reduction from the original administration suggestion of $450/12 months.

We invite our members to join the Graduate Employee Organization in its weekly alternative workout on Thursdays at noon.  Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1xNw77PFXg for an entertaining view of what it’s like.

Singing the Budget Blues: UMass at the Tipping Point

November 19 at 12 Noon in Campus Center 168C

The UMass Amherst PHENOM Council is sponsoring a teach-in for faculty, staff, students, and administrators to discuss how the increasing burden being placed on the campus community is affecting us as Massachusetts continues to disinvest from public higher education at the expense of students, staff, and our future economic viability.  Please email tippingpoint.phenom@gmail with a story you would like to share.

MTA Higher Education Conference

You should have received a notice about this conference taking place December 4-5 in Framingham.  Please RSVP if you are planning to attend so MSP can help defray your costs.  More information and on-line registration is at http://www.massteacher.org/news/headlines/headlines_2009-10-28.cfm

MSP Members Lunch

Save the date – December 3 at 12 Noon – Fall Membership Meeting and Lunch in the Campus Center Amherst Room.  Please RSVP so we can reserve a lunch for you. 

Gen. Ed. and Distance Ed.

MSP is bargaining about these important and rapidly-changing issues and will send you a detailed report very soon.  Stay tuned!