COVID-19 Response
Much of MSP's work during COVID has focused on ensuring that our members have safe working conditions, fair compensation for increased work and peace of mind about COVID's impact on one's professional life. The "union difference" and MSP representation means real bargaining power for our members.
MSP's COVID Agreements
The MSP negotiated a one-year crisis response agreement (executed 6/29/20) which covered workload adjustments and remote teaching. In addition, the MSP negotiated multiple COVID related agreements over a two year period, including:
- Memorandum of Agreement Re ADA Accommodations (executed 11/11/21)
- Memorandum of Agreement Re Student Evaluations (executed 10/13/21)
- Memorandum of Agreement Pertaining to COVID Vaccinations Series (executed 8/6/21)
- Memorandum of Agreement Pertaining to Misc. COVID-related Matters (aka Fall 2021 Reopening Agreement) -- executed 5/21/21
- Memorandum of Agreement Re Spring 2021 Student Evaluations (executed 4/15/21)
- Memorandum of Agreement Pertaining to Fall 2020 Reopening of Campus (executed 8/19/20)
MSP FAQs About Reopening Campus
The MSP answered many questions from members that required significant research and advocacy. We generated two FAQs in response to our members' concerns.
The Spring 2020 FAQs covered the following: Tenure, reappointment, promotion, continuing appointment; dealing with illness; support for remote teaching; research and technology support; long-term implications of COVID-19 response; setting reasonable expectations given care-giving needs; financial burdens; support for students; retrenchment, furloughs, layoffs and unemployment insurance and more information.
The July 2020 FAQs were updated to address the campus re-opening and the following topics: Teaching Face-to Face, Teaching Online, Workload Adjustment Eligibility, Workload Adjustment Options, Technology Assistance Funds, Intellectual Property Rights and Academic Freedom, Childcare and Eldercare Assistance, Dealing with Illness, Health and Safety, and Parking.
For More Information
To find current answers to many other questions, including issues that affect faculty, staff, and students, please see the university’s comprehensive website with information about the COVID-19 epidemic: https://www.umass.edu/coronavirus/