We Fought for Fair Share. Now We Fight Back Against Federal Cuts
We Fought for Fair Share. Now We Fight Back Against Federal Cuts
Greetings,
After a beautiful Memorial Day, which I hope you all were able to enjoy while honoring the veterans in your families and communities, I hate to bring us back to reality of what is happening in the federal government budget fight.
All of you are working hard to bring your school years to a successful conclusion. So many are fighting for fair contracts – in any given year in the MTA, a union of 400 locals with more than 700 separate contracts, we have several hundred contracts that are being negotiated. And many of you also are fighting – usually successfully – for Prop 2½ overrides to save educator jobs in our public schools.
In higher ed, federal contracts are being canceled almost daily, and new threats are issued to attack the freedom to learn, research and protest. We also are working hard at the state level to win more funding for public schools and colleges – and having some success. It’s not enough, but the extra funds for middle-income districts, and for special education and regional transportation, are all because of your victory on the Fair Share Amendment. Get the latest budget news at massteacher.org/statebudgetnews.
And now I am piling on, by asking you to read about the U.S. House’s budget that has been sent to the Senate. It is one of the most morally repugnant budget documents I have seen, directly transferring money from the working class – in the form of SNAP benefits, Medicaid, Pell Grants, and so much more – directly to the wealthy in the form of tax cuts. If passed, it would have a profound impact on our public schools, colleges and universities.
Please read about the details, or listen to this podcast version. We all need to understand what is being done to our country.
Here is one action step the NEA is asking you to take. We will have more suggestions and plans in the coming weeks, as we build toward a June and July battle in the Senate, and which will continue in September.
In the meantime, I urge you to make plans to join your MTA union siblings as we march together in Boston Pride on June 14, which is also a national “No Kings” day of action.
MTA Events, Opportunities and Solidarity Actions
Survey on Impact of Eighth Grade MCAS
The MTA is looking into the impact of state testing requirements on eighth grade students. Please help us learn more about the number of school days impacted by testing requirements for these students by participating in a brief survey. 8th Grade Spring 2025 Test Administration
Immigration, Education and Rights: Supporting Families in a Shifting Policy Landscape
When: 6 - 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 4
Where: Virtual
The ACLU of Massachusetts will provide updates on immigration policy and enforcement at the federal and local level, how educators can support their students and families, and information on rights during interactions with law enforcement.
Registration is required: massteacher.org/mtaforums.
Actions Taken at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Delegates
Actions taken by the 2025 Annual Meeting of Delegates at the meeting on May 2-3, 2025 can be found here.
Springfield and Boston Pride Events
When: June 7 and June 14
Where: Stearns Square, Springfield, and Copley Square, Boston
Register on the MTA’s LGBTQ+ page at massteacher.org/lgbtqplus.
Political Education
I would urge you to read this piece about how to undermine authoritarianism. It is here and it is real and we have to be in conversation with one another about how to resist. The April 5 rallies across the state and nation were incredible, as were the May Day rallies you led in more than 70 locals. We know we have to build from these rallies and marches into other forms of resistance. Cited in the column above are Gene Sharp’s 198 ways to resist authoritarianism. Read them and start a discussion in your local and with your friends and family.
In solidarity,
Max and Deb