PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Greetings! Welcome to our new members and welcome back to our veterans. I invite you to be involved in association activities in order to build a strong union, protect your own interests and play a positive role for your students. There have been some big changes in the MTA and the NEA that I want to mention. As many of you know, the delegates to MTA’s Annual Meeting in May picked a new leadership team, electing Barbara Madeloni as President and Janet Anderson as Vice President. In July, the NEA held its own convention at which the delegates elected Lily Eskelsen Garcias as President. New Business Items were approved at the state and national levels committing the union to fighting back against the assault on public education through policies influenced by corporate interests, not by educators. These changes signal renewed commitment from the EAW/MTA/NEA to engage members in identifying the assault on public education and our unions, and in developing strategies to reclaim a broader vision of high quality public education for every student in the Commonwealth. We want to hear from each member. We want every member to be involved, and we want to gather our strength in solidarity with parents, students and communities in which we work. Another priority will be safeguarding our collective bargaining rights. In Holyoke and New Bedford, teachers at Level 4 and 5 schools were required to reapply for their jobs. Under the commissioner of education’s plan, if teachers wanted to stay at their schools, they had to agree to work a lot more hours for just a little more pay. They also had to give up job protections and accept a performance-based pay system. Needless to say, experienced teachers left in droves and less expensive new comers have been hired to replace them. MTA has fought the commissioner’s plans and filed lawsuits challenging them. These lawsuits are only one strategy. We need to organize to affirm and fight for our collective bargaining rights. This means helping our communities understand that, without a doubt, our working conditions are our students’ learning conditions. We also face a challenge from non-unionized Commonwealth Charter Schools. These schools create a two-tiered system by educating few high-need students while at the same time draining education funds from district schools. We had an important victory on July 16 when the State Senate voted against lifting the cap on charter schools, just one day after more than 1,100 MTA members flooded their inboxes with emails. Thank you to any of you who sent in your emails. It really made a big difference. Of course, that doesn’t mean charters are going away. Eight new charter schools have been proposed, and they would affect a lot of districts. In addition, we may be facing a ballot initiative on charters in coming years. We must form alliances with parents and students to fight for resources to provide the best for every child in our public schools. This fall, we have an open race for the governor. As you know, the governor has a huge impact on education spending and education policy, including appointing the State’s Commissioner of Education. Let’s put education issues at the center of the race. Write letters to the editor, ask questions of candidates, and let every candidate understand that our union members are watching to see where they stand on defending public education and our unions. Please pay attention if you get a call from the MTA with information about state elections. I know you are busy, but please consider volunteering to make phone calls or hold a sign or talk to your friends and family members about whichever candidate you believe is the most pro education. All of the association’s efforts at the local, state and national levels will be more effective if members are actively involved. There are many ways to do this, but here are a few to choose from: 1. Contact me, the EAW President, to nominate yourself to serve on an EAW committee at Lenny.eaw@gmail.com. Contact President Madeloni and nominate yourself to serve on an MTA committee at jholland@massteacher.org. 2. Send letters to the editor to your local newspaper and the MTA Today. Use social media to educate our communities about the assault on public education, the good work we do and the vision we want to create for public schools in Massachusetts. Len Zalauskas My email address: Lenny.eaw@gmail.com Our web site: WORCESTER.MASSTEACHER.ORG
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT
MTA President Barbara Madeloni has scheduled a series of member forums statewide. She will be at the MTA Auburn office on September 25th at 5 PM for a regional forum. It’s an opportunity to let Barbara know of your issues and concerns. All MTA members are welcome. Please RSVP by emailing Carolyn or Becky at rsvpcmass@massteacher.org or call 508.791.2121. The EAW will be welcoming Barbara and hosting a member forum on Tuesday, October 28th at the EAW. All EAW members are welcome. There will be more information as the date approaches. The EAW is planning a series of building visits during the 14-15 school year. We hope to meet with members and learn of building and district issues. Please look to your building delegates for more information on date and time. Election time will soon be upon us. As the fall campaign heats up there will be phone banking opportunities at the EAW and at MTA Auburn. Please come and spend a few hours to support candidates who support public education. As this new school year rolls forward, please remember to contact the EAW immediately should you be the target of disciplinary or a 51A allegation. The earlier you contact your Union, the better able it is to provide representation on your behalf. You have the right to union representation in any matter that may result in discipline. But you must tell the employer you want a union representative and contact the EAW. Let’s have a great year!! Brad Brousseau BBrousseau@massteacher.org
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.