Happy Holidays from MTA
Happy Holidays from MTA
I (Max) arrived at UMass Amherst in the fall of 2001, at the age of 35. I wasn’t thinking too much about retirement. But within a couple of years, people in my local and in the MTA were talking about repealing the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision, two federal laws better known as GPO and WEP, and how crucial it was for thousands of current and future retirees. The MTA and NEA have been pushing this issue for the past two decades. It felt at times futile. But as I write this, we are potentially hours and a final vote in the U.S. Senate away from reversing a 40-year steal of MTA members’ earned Social Security benefits. I hope that before you celebrate holidays and the New Year, that we will all know that the Social Security Fairness Act has passed and has been signed into law by President Biden. It will be a tremendous victory for our members and for public employees across the nation.
Closer to home, we need everyone’s help to ask the Massachusetts Senate to pass what the House has already – a bill giving our members who missed the opportunity to join RetirementPlus another chance to opt in. We hear all the time from members who never had a chance to join R+ and this is denying them the opportunity for a more secure retirement.
Please take action on BOTH GPO/WEP and on RetirementPlus.
There is nothing we would love more as a gift, or as a way to celebrate the end of 2024, than to secure retirement dignity for all of you.
Have wonderful holidays, a happy New Year, and a restful time with friends and family. You deserve it!
MTA Events, Opportunities & Solidarity Actions
Actions Taken at December MTA Board Meeting
To help members be more fully engaged with the work of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, we will post an “Actions” document summarizing actions taken by the Board or Executive Committee at the most recent meeting. Actions taken by the MTA Board at the meeting on Dec. 14, 2024, can be found here.
Before you shut down for break, sign up for some important and exciting events happening early in 2025.
All Presidents’ Meeting
When: Saturday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Where: AC Hotel Worcester,125 Front St.
Note: This meeting is intended for local presidents, but if you’d like to attend, ask your local president.
Please join us as we celebrate some recent victories and continue to build stronger locals and a stronger MTA! Registration ends on Thursday, Jan. 2. Register today for the January 2025 All Presidents’ meeting.
Professional Licensure Workshop
When: Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m.
Where: Virtual
Learn about the licensure process at different career stages with MTA Education Policy Specialist Beth Tripathi and Professional Development Strategist Dan Callahan. The Jan. 15 session will offer a crash course on the requirements for applying for and renewing a Professional license. Learn more and sign up here.
Media and Bias (Part of the First Wednesday Retiree Speaker Series)
When: Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 3 p.m.
Where: Virtual
What is propaganda? How does it differ from typical political opposition? This workshop will focus on anti-labor propaganda and describe communication strategies used to undermine union organizing and discredit unionized labor. It also will review effective pro-labor communication strategies. Learn more and sign up here. MTA Meeting for MTA Members and Community Allies - Yes on 2 Follow Up
When: Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m.
Where: Virtual
Please join us for a meeting on Jan. 29, when we will celebrate our YES on 2 victory and discuss the way forward, including defending our victory in the Legislature, along with pushing forward other key priorities for public education in preK through higher education. Please email MTAGovernance@massteacher.org with any questions. Register today. ESP Conference - Propose a Workshop When: April 5 and 6 Where: Wellsworth Hotel, Southbridge
The Education Support Professionals Committee requests proposals for two-hour workshops for the annual ESP Conference. The theme of this year’s conference is “The Power of ESPs: Together We Are Stronger! Together We Are United!” The committee is especially interested in workshops on organizing and professional development that meet the needs of preK-12 and higher ed ESPs in their many roles. Workshop proposals are due by Jan. 5.
PreK-12 Bargaining Summit and Winter Union Skills
When: Friday, Jan. 24, (Bargaining Summit) and Saturday, Jan. 25 (Winter Union Skills)
Where: Hilton Boston Park Plaza
PreK-12 bargaining teams are encouraged to join the Bargaining Summit on Jan. 24, and all members are encouraged to attend the Winter Union Skills Conference the following day. This free event includes a variety of workshops related to local unions' core activities. Register now.
New Member Committee Community Forum
When: Monday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m.
Where: Virtual
Join this month’s New Members Community Forum, hosted by the MTA New Member Committee. In this informal, one-hour Zoom session, we'll have time to catch up and check in. As an attendee, you will have an opportunity to share your thoughts about the year so far, troubleshoot issues and offer insights to your colleagues.
We hope that you'll be able to join us for the full hour, however, you are also welcome to drop in at any time between 7 and 8 p.m. This month, New Member Committee Member Taryn Fernacz will be hosting our forum.
Updated Guidance from DESE – MCAS Graduation Requirement
DESE released updated guidance including the previously unreported fact that Question 2 will be retroactive. Learn more.
Nomination Deadline: 2025 ESP of the Year The window is closing for nominations for the 2025 ESP of the Year! Every year, the MTA recognizes an outstanding Education Support Professional. Please nominate someone you work with in your building or on your campus who makes a difference. The form and more information are available here. The deadline is Friday, Jan. 5. Seeking Nominations for 2025 MTA Friend of Labor and Friend of Education Awards The MTA celebrates individuals each year who have made outstanding contributions to the labor movement and public education. Please send your nominations for the Friend of Labor and Friend of Education awards to our Division of Governance.
Please include the following information: The name, mailing address, email address, and title, if applicable, of the nominee, and the award sought for them. A statement that summarizes the nature of the accomplishments and contributions of the individual to education and educators, or to the labor movement. Your name, email address, local association, mailing address and telephone numbers. Please send your nomination to MTAGovernance@massteacher.org no later than Feb. 12, 2025
“Testing Education: A Teacher’s Memoir”
Some of you know about retired member Kathy Greeley's book “Testing Education: A Teacher's Memoir,” but we want to encourage our locals to form book groups to read it together. Greeley, co-chair of the MTA's Retired Members Committee, is willing to talk about the book with MTA members – either in person or virtually. We want to encourage rich discussions about educators' own experiences and stimulate dialogue about what our schools can look like, especially with our victory on Question 2. Greeley can be reached at: kegreeley@gmail.com. Members can access the book for free through MTA Reads.
Provide Input to the MTA Electoral Review Committee
The Electoral Review Committee is charged with reviewing MTA’s electoral districts and regions every three years to ensure compliance and fair representation. Any member may give input to the committee as it takes on this work, which culminates in a recommendation to the delegates at Annual Meeting in May. Please refer to further information here, for details on the process and how to give input or attend a hearing prior to the committee finalizing a recommended plan at its next meeting on Jan. 27, 2025. Please contact MTAGovernance@massteacher.org with any questions.
Massachusetts Parentage Act
The Massachusetts Parentage Act takes effect on Jan. 1. According to GLAD, this historic new law “will protect LGBTQ+ families and families formed through assisted reproduction.” Learn more about this law here.
Political Education
In the new year, we will need to be prepared for very real threats – threats named and planned by the incoming administration – against our members, our students, and their families. Here are a couple of pieces – one about threats from the far right, and one on threats and opportunities for labor in the new Trump era – to reflect on as we gear up for both our powerful positive fights for public education and the common good, and our defensive ones, against those who would seek to undermine public education, the foundation of our democracy, and our union.
In solidarity,
Max and Deb