Union News: Newton Teachers Strike for Fairness
Union News: Newton Teachers Strike for Fairness
Greetings,
Last Thursday night, our Newton Teachers Association members chose – with 98% of the members in support – to go on strike.
They went out on strike Friday morning and stood out in support of their bargaining team through the weekend. Unfortunately, because of management recalcitrance, the NTA and the district did not reach an agreement. Indeed, the district has refused to address the core issues in this contract struggle. It is our job as an activist labor union, and for all of you as members across our 400 locals, to support the NTA in getting a fair contract.
Newton educators are fighting for what all of you are fighting for – fair pay, especially for our lowest paid ESP members, paid parental leave, prep time and a social worker in every building – to address the mental health crisis in our schools. Please go to newteach.org for more information and to find out how you and your locals can stand in solidarity with the NTA.
MTA Events,
Update on Student Loan Forgiveness
On Jan. 19, the U.S. Department of Education announced an additional $4.9 billion in debt relief, including for educators, due to the Biden administration’s fixes for income-driven repayment (IDR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The IDR adjustment period was extended once again, now with a consolidation deadline of April 30. This means that federal loan borrowers (including Parent PLUS loans) can receive retroactive credit for past payments, even if paid through an ineligible payment plan.
If you’re not sure what this information means for you and your student loans, MTA members and their families can join a free webinar with MTA Benefits partner Cambridge Credit Counseling to learn more. Register now for webinar dates through March.
Conference Opportunities for MTA Members
The MTA and NEA are accepting applications for members to participate in this year’s conferences, scheduled from January through July. This is a great opportunity for members to immerse themselves in union education and job-specific education and engage with members across the country. You will have the opportunity to learn from renowned leaders, share stories with other members and learn from one other. Both MTA and NEA provide funding for these conferences. Space is very limited. If you are interested in applying to one or more of these opportunities, please fill out this survey form.
MTA ESP Conference
When: April 5 - 6
Where: Sea Crest Beach Hotel, 350 Quaker Road, North Falmouth
Go here to get more information or nominate a first-time participant to receive a scholarship. Conference registration will open in February.
Winter Union Skills Conference
When: Saturday, Feb. 10
Where: Framingham Sheraton Conference & Hotel Center
Please join us for MTA’s Winter Union Skills Conference. The free conference will include a variety of 90-minute workshops related to the core activities of local unions. Offerings center on the MTA’s Bargaining Certificate Program, grievance handling, organizing for powerful contracts, communications, leadership development, membership sign-ups and more. There will also be a variety of Environmental Health and Safety workshops and expanded treasurer and membership training. Space is limited. Sign up here.
Virtual Licensure Workshops
Learn more about the licensure process at upcoming workshops. All sessions are free and open to all. Learn more and register.
Virtual Workshops from the MTA’s Anti-Racism Task Force
The MTA’s Anti-Racism Task Force invites members to join them for a series of virtual MTA Forums beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 24. The forums occur from 6 to 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month, except in January and April. Learn more and register here.
The first forum is focused on “Self-care and Wellness as a Form of Resistance.”
How to Launch Climate Education and Advocacy in Your Local
When: Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m.
Where: Virtual
The MTA Climate Action Network’s first Zoom session of the year is tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. This is of particular interest for educators looking to begin climate-related work in their school or local union. We will hear from several locals about how they started, what they’re doing now and how they overcame obstacles. Register here in advance for this workshop.
MTA Nominations and Elections
Regional Ethnic Minority Delegates to Annual Meeting – Deadline Feb. 2
MTA affirms its commitment to the goal of maximizing ethnic minority participation in all levels of organizational governance. One way that is fulfilled is through an allocation of ethnic minority delegate seats to Annual Meeting. This delegate allocation is equal to the number of district directors from each MTA electoral region. Elections are held to fill the seats among the nominations received. We encourage ethnic minority members to self-nominate to fill these positions through the link below.
The deadline to self-nominate for a seat as a Regional Ethnic Minority Delegate to Annual Meeting is Friday, Feb. 2, at 5 p.m. The nomination form can be found here.
Elections for MTA Board and Executive Committee – Nomination Signatures due by March 1 This year, elections will be held for MTA officers, approximately one-third of the seats on the MTA Board of Directors and At-Large Director for Ethnic Minority Membership. These elections will take place at the Annual Meeting in April. To be a candidate, nomination signatures must be requested and are due back by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 1. View the full list of openings and find out more about becoming a candidate here. Contact MTAGovernance@massteacher.org with any questions or to request nomination papers.
Local Delegate Elections
Now is the time to start thinking about serving as a delegate to MTA’s Annual Meeting, which will be held April 26-27 in Springfield, and the NEA-RA, scheduled for July 3-7 in Philadelphia. The nomination process and election for local delegate seats are handled by each local association with the names of elected delegates due to MTA in early to mid-April. Contact your local president or election officer to find out the details and timing of your local processes.
Elections Contact
If you have any questions regarding MTA’s nomination or election process, please contact John Connelly, Division of Governance & Administration, at jconnelly@massteacher.org or 617.878.8305.
Political Education
As we continue our campaign to pass a bill that would make a human right actually legal in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – that is, the right to strike by public sector workers – it is worth learning about the history of educator strikes, past and present. Here are a few pieces that help illuminate when and why educators have chosen to withhold their labor:
On the recent Portland, Oregon strike.
A book about educator strikes.
In solidarity,
Max and Deb