Join today
Union membership is no longer automatic – you must submit a membership application to become a union member.
Every worker benefits from the union – but only union members build our power, sustain our existence, and have their voices represented. PSU is entirely funded by union member dues; we depend on every member to protect and extend our rights (see dues rates below). Do your part and join the more than 80% of your co-workers who belong to PSU: become a member today.
To submit your membership application: follow these instructions, or simply email your completed application to the PSU organizer:
- For UMass Amherst: Jonah Vorspan-Stein: jvorspan@umass.edu
- For UMass Boston: Mary Jo Connelly: maryjoconnellypsu@gmail.com
Recent Wins and Goals
Some benefits that we have won–thanks to the support and work of our members– which we are constantly working to advance:
Wins
- Salaries: An 8% Cost of Living Raise (2023-2024).
- Salaries (again): More than $1 Million in employee raises through a campaign to get UMass Amherst HR to #ProcessTheBacklog.
- Salary scale update at UMBoston: More than $4 Million in employee raises through a campaign to update the UMB salary scale
- Flexible Work: defended our remote/hybrid work rights and enshrined these into a permanent agreement.
- A Sick Leave Bank that provides up to 6 months of fully-paid parental leave.
- Job Protections: averted mass layoffs of Advancement members; secured job guarantees for more than 100 affected members.
- Generous Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time.
- Tuition Benefits for staff and our families.
- Free Dental & Vision Coverage.
Goals
- Salaries that allow us to meet our needs and support our communities.
- Retention: a new wage structure that gives members a reason to stay at UMass.
- Full staffing: one person, one job; faster hiring, minimal vacancies.
- Work/Life Balance: time and resources to have a vibrant life outside our jobs.
- Protecting Public Universities from corporate interests that seek to privatize state work for profit.
- Healthcare: better, more accessible medical (including dental & vision) benefits for all members, including out-of-state workers.
- Sick Leave Bank: ensure access to parental leave is equitable
- Equal Treatment: eliminating the discrimination and overdisciplining of minoritized members on campus.
- Higher Ed for All: the right to a debt-free, inclusive, high-quality education for all.
Dues Rates
Units A & C Rates
- Full Time Member = $965.67 yearly or $38.63 per paycheck.
- Three-Quarters Time = $777.50 or $31.10 per paycheck. (32 hours or less.)
- Half-Time Member = $494.34 or $19.77 per paycheck. (20 hours or less.)
Unit B Rates
- Full time = $656.92 yearly, $26.28 per paycheck
* Unit A is made up of professional staff at Amherst and Boston. Unit B represents Amherst classified supervisors and has a separate contract. Unit C is made up of the Athletic Coaches at Boston.
Learn More
To learn more about union membership, sign up for a virtual PSU orientation (UMass Amherst only)!
Or talk to your Amherst PSU Delegate from your work area or a Boston Chapter Board member.
Important Forms & Documents
- PSU Membership Application
- Instructions for membership application
- PSU Membership Guidebook: Summary of your rights and benefits as a Professional Staff employee
Where do your dues go?
The PSU’s budgets are available on our website. View our recent budgets and associated documents.