The PSU Amherst Chapter Board is the body that makes decisions for the Amherst chapter. Each member of the Chapter Board has individual responsibilities related to their role, in addition to sitting on the Chapter Board. The Chapter Board is comprised of the following:
- Five officers who are elected in a member-wide election (co-chair, co-chair, secretary, grievance officer, treasurer)
- Seven committee chairs and one at-large member who are elected by the Delegate Council
- Unit B officer who is elected by Unit B members.
Officers are granted release time to attend meetings and are granted workload reductions for the execution of union duties.
Please feel free to contact current officers for questions about what the officer role entails.
These executive positions have dual roles serving both on the JEC (Joint Executive Council) of PSU, which oversees both UMass Amherst and Boston PSU chapters as one MTA Local, and on the UMass Amherst Chapter Board. They serve as leadership positions in establishing policy, political, financial, and governance for both the Chapter and Local, in conjunction with the Chapter Boards of each chapter. Regular communication and public representation are critical aspects of the duties.
Co-Chairs (shared responsibilities)
The roles of leading and representing PSU are the primary responsibility, tasks, and goals of the co-chairs. The co-chairs will act as leaders and spokespersons, and will guide PSU, while fiercely guarding, protecting, and promoting PSU.
This is a shared role with a lot of overlap. It is up to the individuals holding these offices to determine who will do what, and when it is necessary to share, to divide, to collaborate, or to delegate.
- Communicate regularly with members, Chapter Board, JEC, Delegate Council, and staff.
- Support members with quick responses to (direct, phone or email) inquiries.
- At least one co-chair must serve on the Unit A contract negotiating team, and one on Unit B bargaining team; enforce both contracts.
- Call regular Chapter board meetings, requesting union release time as needed.
- Organize and attend multiple monthly Labor-Management Committee meetings, and impact and decisional bargaining meetings (two hours plus prep).
- Attend UMass administration-organized committees and working groups, including the Workplace Education Committee and the Workplace Climate, and Anti-Bullying Board.
- Attend member representational and grievance meetings with Grievance Officer, Stewards, and PSU staff, as needed.
- Signatory responsibility to PSU on contracts, agreements, waivers, and other documents.
- Financial responsibilities to PSU, such as holding credit cards; purchasing and approving purchases; reviewing and signing checks.
- Serve as JEC President on an alternating annual basis with UMass Boston.
- Supervise office staff.
- Represent PSU Amherst Chapter at labor boards, coalitions, etc. both on and off campus.
- Attend monthly MTA Higher Education Leadership Committee (HELC) meetings.
- One co-chair must chair Chapter Board meetings.
- Member of the Chapter Board, which oversees and makes decisions about the Amherst chapter (Chapter Board meets two hours per month).
- Member of the JEC, which oversees and makes decisions about the PSU Amherst-Boston local (JEC meets three hours per month).
Grievance officer
- Organize and maintain the Steward Network, including Steward training.
- Represent and advocate for members who are aggrieved.
- Be available to membership for quick consultation and response to inquiries.
- Attend monthly Labor-Management meetings (two hours plus prep).
- Meet with members in ‘problem areas’ as needed, both as contract enforcement and organizational development effort.
- Provide general contract training in conjunction with PSU staff.
- Member of the Chapter Board, which oversees and makes decisions about the Amherst chapter (Chapter Board meets two hours per month).
- Member of the JEC, which oversees and makes decisions about the PSU Amherst-Boston local (JEC meets three hours per month).
Recording secretary
- Keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the Chapter Board, Executive Committee, and general membership meetings.
- Distribute approved minutes according to established policy.
- Maintain official files in a secure environment with staff help.
- Member of the Chapter Board, which oversees and makes decisions about the Amherst chapter (Chapter Board meets two hours per month).
- Member of the JEC, which oversees and makes decisions about the PSU Amherst-Boston local (JEC meets three hours per month).
Treasurer
- Oversee that funds budgeted by the JEC for the PSU Amherst Chapter are monitored.
- Manage disbursement of funds in accordance with the budget per Chapter-defined policies and procedures with concurrence of the Chapter Board and consistent with all applicable laws.
- May develop and chair a Chapter Finance Committee which organizes and monitors Chapter budget development and adherence.
- May be elected Treasurer of the JEC.
- Member of the Chapter Board, which oversees and makes decisions about the Amherst chapter (Chapter Board meets two hours per month).
- Member of the JEC, which oversees and makes decisions about the PSU Amherst-Boston local (JEC meets three hours per month).
- May work with the Amherst-based PSU Financial Director on various issues, such as resolving account issues.
- Helps PSU Financial Director develop the PSU annual budget.
Committee Chairs
Elections for the committee chairs, at-large member, and Unit B officer are held in September in odd-numbered years. Members serve a two-year term beginning Oct 1 and ending September 30.
Communications Committee Chair
From the PSU Amherst bylaws: Responsible for all internal and external chapter communications, including minutes, web page, email, E-newsletter, and correspondence.
Chairs the communications committee, and coordinates the work of committee members, who will:
- Work with co-chairs and other chapter board members to develop talking points, messaging strategy
- Work with co-chairs on member communication emails
- Manage the Mailchimp account
- Work with PSU staff organizer to handle inbound member communication
- In coordination with PSU Boston, publish and maintain the PSU website
- In coordination with PSU Boston, write, design, and publish social media
- Write and design event flyers and other print materials
Delegate Council Chair
From the PSU Amherst bylaws: The delegate council is led by the delegate chair and the vice-chair, elected by delegates from among the delegates.
Description:
- Facilitate and set the agenda for Delegate Council meetings.
- Attend monthly Chapter Board meetings to provide updates on Delegate Council work and the broad interests/needs/concerns of PSU members.
- Share updates of work being done within the Delegate Council.
- Present proposals, membership needs and concerns, and other relevant information to the Chapter Board, and collect information to share back with the Delegate Council.
- Coordinate delegate trainings after each election and share materials with new delegates who start midterm.
- Coordinate with PSU staff and Membership Committee to provide delegates with current contact information for members in their district.
- Support delegate organizing work within their districts through sharing information and resources, and promoting organizing skill development.
- Promote opportunities for organizing skill development and involvement within PSU, UMass Unions United, and MTA.
Delegate Council Vice Chair
From the PSU Amherst bylaws: The delegate council is led by the delegate chair and the vice-chair, elected by delegates from among the delegates. The delegate chair also sits on the chapter board (the Vice Chair does not).
Description:
- Provide backup and support for the Delegate Chair.
- When the Delegate Chair is unable to do so, chair (co-host) DC meetings or attend Chapter Board meetings.
- Assist with duties of Delegate Chair including, but not limited to responding to requests and questions from delegates and PSU members, recruiting and facilitating the election (or appointment) of delegates to districts as necessary, training of new delegates.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Chair
From the PSU Amherst bylaws: Responsible for advising and educating on DEI efforts with all PSU boards, committees and councils, developing relationships with other DEI partners, and holding PSU accountable for the integration of DEI practices
Description: This is a new position, so there is no precedent about the work of this chair or this committee. That said, the expectation is that the DEI Committee Chair will:
- Participate in recruiting committee members
- Hold regular committee meetings
- Determine committee priorities, strategy, and tasks
Education Committee chair
From the PSU Amherst bylaws: Responsible for educating members about the PSU, including but not limited to our contract, PSU organizational structure, and PSU policies and procedures.
Description: This position was previously part of the Organizing/Education Committee chair. The education work has now been separated into its own committee. The expectation is that the Education Committee chair will:
- Develop and offer training and information sessions about PSU topics relevant to members.
- Develop and offer leadership training for members interested in pursuing leadership roles.
Membership Committee Chair
From the PSU Amherst bylaws: Responsible for welcoming/orienting new employees/members, maintaining data lists for MTA and the local, and creating social opportunities for the membership.
Description:
- Create and manage slides and handouts for use in new member orientation
- Schedule new member orientations using information provided from HR; schedule people from committee to run orientations; serve as backup in case nobody else from the committee can run the orientation
- Track new members’ membership status in shared spreadsheet; keep spreadsheets updated; track members who may be interested in joining a committee or getting more involved. Update spreadsheets monthly to match HR lists.
- Send introductory emails to new members
- Send check-in emails (both “mass” and individual) as needed to people who have A) not yet signed up for an orientation or B) attended orientations but not become members
- Communicate with delegates about new members in their area
- Schedule regular committee meetings and set agendas
- With committee support, organize in-person or virtual events to welcome and engage members, both current and new (such as new member luncheons, hikes, Zoom socials)
- Coordinate with PSU office staff and organizers to ensure that membership paperwork is received and processed
- Ensure that membership forms and information on the PSU website are accurate and up-to-date
- Work with the committee on special projects, i.e. creation and distribution of a membership handbook; database project.
Organizing Committee Chair
From the PSU Amherst bylaws: Responsible for internal organizing and representing the chapter in coalition organizing efforts.
Description: This is a new position, so there is no precedent about the work of this chair or this committee. That said, the expectation is that the Organizing Committee Chair will:
- Represent PSU in coalitions such as UMass Unions United, Western Mass Area Labor Federation, etc.
- Organize members for actions such as sign holding and other in-person events, sending emails to the chancellor, the president’s office, state legislators, and other people in leadership positions, assisting in contract bargaining actions, etc.
- Help build the union’s power and effectiveness by training and helping delegates, stewards and officers mobilize members in support of PSU priorities.
Salary Administration Program Committee Chair
From the PSU Amherst bylaws: Monitors SAP and members’ reviews, establishes SAP steward network.
Description:
- Organize and maintain the SAP Steward Network, including Steward training.
- Provide education and guidance for PSU members pursuing an equity or position description. review, including researching and analyzing salaries of members in similar positions to address equity issues, writing/revising position descriptions to accurately reflect job responsibilities, and evaluating positions for salary level.
- Be available to members for quick consultation and response to inquiries on SAP issues.
- Collaborate with the Labor Management Team and Grievance Officer to help members resolve SAP issues.
- Facilitate decisions about appeals with SAP Committee and Chapter Board when members do not accept the results of equity and position reviews.
- Represent members in hearings with Appeals Board.
- Lead monthly SAP committee meetings (two hours).
- Maintain log of SAP cases.
At-large Member
From the Amherst bylaws: The purpose of the at-large member is to ensure “representation of underrepresented groups (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, ability and illness) in leadership decisions.”
Description: This is a new position, so there is no precedent about the work of this position. That said, the expectation is that the At-large member will:
- Personally identify as an underrepresented identity.
- Provide perspective from underrepresented groups in Chapter Board meetings and decisions.
- Actively engage in outreach to PSU members from underrepresented groups.
Unit B Officer/Committee Chair
From the Amherst bylaws: Responsible for Unit B development and organization (allows for their own structure).
Description: Communicate with Unit B members about their needs and interests. Represent Unit B on the Chapter Board.
