To best represent our members, and to advocate effectively for a strong Public university, an essential MSP activity is to work closely with many other organizations. The "alphabet soup" that follows will help you place our work in context, and help you understand some of our most important relationships.

FACULTY STAFF UNION (FSU)
Our sister chapter, the union representing faculty and librarians on the UMass/Boston campus. MSP and FSU are technically one union since our contract with the University covers both MSP and FSU. We negotiate jointly, and stay in regular contact, but the two units run their day-to-day affairs independently. The FSU maintains its own office and our MTA staffer works with FSU as well.

JOINT COORDINATING COMMITTEE (JCC)
Legal umbrella organization which associates the MSP and the FSU into a unit-wide local. JCC is the body that bargains and submits our collective bargaining agreements for ratification, formulates and implements policies and programs of the local, and determines whether to submit grievances to outside arbitrations or not. Financially speaking, MSP contributes two-thirds of JCC's budget which is used to pay for our shared bookkeeper, audit, payroll service, and arbitration costs. FSU contributes the remaining one-third. According to its bylaws, the JCC is to meet at least once per year.

MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION (MTA)
Statewide union with which we are affiliated and a portion of our dues goes to them. It is the largest union in Massachusetts with over 100,000 members (about 15,000 in higher education) and we are considered one of MTA's locals. MTA's members are in every town of the state; therefore the union has a lot of political clout with state government. MTA provides MSP/FSU with a consultant who assists with planning, bargaining and grievances. Each May, the MTA holds its Annual Meeting where the MTA budget and policy issues are debated and voted on. MSP is entitled to elect approximately 20 delegates to represent us at that meeting.

NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (NEA)
National union with which we are affiliated and a portion of our dues goes to them. It is the largest union in the country and plays an important role in debates around national education policy.

HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERSHIP COUNCIL (HELC)
Leaders of all the higher education locals within the MTA. Meeting every month or two, HELC provides a way for us to coordinate our work with colleagues on the UMass campuses as well as with those at the state and community college level. HELC plays a major role in influencing MTA with regard to its policies and decision-making for higher education.

FACULTY SENATE
The UMass/Amherst Faculty Senate is the official body on campus responsible for faculty participation in University planning and governance. While MSP and the Faculty Senate tend to focus on different issues (we are the sole lawful representative of the faculty and librarians with respect to terms and conditions of employment, and they deal primarily with governance issues), the work of the two organizations occasionally overlaps. When that happens, we have been known to collaborate. This has been especially true recently in responding to the proposed reorganization of the University. MSP is also allowed a representative that regularly attends Faculty Senate meetings to report on MSP's work. The Secretary of the Faculty Senate and the MSP President co-chair the Faculty Senate Executive Advisory Council.

CAMPUS LABOR COALITION
There are close to 7,000 union members at UMass/Amherst -- more than at any other workplace in Massachusetts. Through the Coalition we share information, discuss bargaining strategy, and occasionally initiate joint activities or campaigns with the other unions on our campus. The Coalition meets monthly, or as needed. As relatively privileged workers, MSP feels it's important to lend our support to the other workers on campus. Besides MSP, the four largest unions on campus are: AFSCME, GEO, PSU and USA.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION (SGA) & GRADUATE STUDENT SENATE (GSS)
Elected governance bodies for undergraduate (SGA) and graduate (GSS) students at UMass/Amherst. MSP has worked closely with them on issues such as increased faculty hiring, diversity, funding and democracy. MSP sees students as critical allies and we usually invite student government representatives to at least one MSP board meeting each year.

CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION
MSP's grievance team meets regularly with Associate Provost Susan Pearson and their mutually respectful relationship allows us to resolve most problems that individuals bring to the union without filing formal grievances. MSP's officers also have monthly meetings with the Chancellor to discuss issues not directly related to collective bargaining or individual personnel matters.

UMASS PRESIDENT'S OFFICE
MSP and FSU negotiate our collective bargaining agreement with staff from the University President's Office, although campus representatives also sit on management's bargaining team. The President's Office is the University's main link to the Governor and the State's Office of Administration and Finance. The President hires campus chancellors and reports to the Board of Trustees.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES (BOT)
Governing body for the five-campus University of Massachusetts system (Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell and Worcester); it typically meets four times a year, in various locations, with one of its meetings held on our campus. Trustees are appointed by the Governor. The BOT hires the President, makes final tenure decisions, and sets policy for the University system. MSP is allowed to make a short presentation at each BOT meeting.

STATE LEGISLATURE
Many aspects of our work lives are determined by the Massachusetts Legislature. This includes funding for our contractually-negotiated raises, health insurance, and pensions. The Legislature also determines the University's budget each year. Therefore MSP works to cultivate relationships with legislators -- especially the ones from this area -- and brings students, faculty and librarians to the State House to lobby each year.

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
The Governor, primarily through the Secretary of Administration and Finance and the Office of Employee Relations, instructs the President's Office as to the size of pay raises and other economic improvements the Governor will authorize during the collective bargaining process. The Governor must sign off on our negotiated contract and submit it to the Legislature for funding. MSP endorsed Governor Deval Patrick in the primary, arranged for him to attend the Higher Education Summit on this campus in December 2006, and has maintained access to his top staff ever since.

WESTERN MASS JOBS WITH JUSTICE (JwJ)
Jobs with Justice is a national coalition of unions, community and religious groups that fight for social justice. MSP belongs to the Western Massachusetts chapter, through which we gain support for our issues and lend support to other progressive organizations around issues such as single payer health care.

PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION NETWORK OF MASSACHUSETTS (PHENOM)
Coalition uniting students, staff, faculty and librarians, and alumni from all 29 public colleges and universities in Massachusetts. Its principles include increased funding and hiring, but also lower costs for students, increased access to education for all, and democracy. MSP has played a leading role in starting and supporting PHENOM, and MSP members are active both in the statewide organization and the UMass Amherst Campus Council.