We Fought. We Won. And We’re Not Done Yet
We Fought. We Won. And We’re Not Done Yet
Greetings,
Hopefully, we will be able to celebrate victories as we did on this recent Election Day, including winning more than 50 school committee and city council seats across the state, where locals and the MTA worked to put the right people in office – not to mention removing from office those who mistreated our membership. (Looking at you, now-former Gloucester mayor and now-former Beverly school committee chair!)
Each year, around this time, we also can mark the anniversaries of the time when a number of our locals made a decision with their members to take the ultimate step to achieve living wages for ESPs and parental leave for a largely female workforce – that is, going on strike. It was a year ago that three locals – Beverly, Marblehead and Gloucester – went on strike at almost the same time. And three years ago in October, it was Malden and Haverhill. Beyond the material gains for their members – never underestimate the life-changing power of winning weeks of parental leave, or lifting annual ESP wages from $25,000 to $35,000, or winning more prep time – these members reported feeling a solidarity they never felt before. Now, they are prepared and committed to the fights ahead, knowing that they chose to do what seemed impossible – and won.
MTA Events, Opportunities and Solidarity Actions
Urge Senators to Listen to Educators on Literacy
In October, the state House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation that mandates the use of specific literacy curricula in school districts and restricts instructional practices in our classrooms. That legislation, H.4683, is now before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. Senators on the Joint Committee on Education continue to consider S.338. The Senate is expected to take up early literacy legislation soon, so it is critical that you write to your senator right away to urge them to support investments in reading specialists and other educators and oppose legislation that undermines educator expertise and the longtime principle of local districts being able to choose curricula that is aligned with our widely respected curriculum frameworks.
The MTA Store!
At long last, we have an online store for anyone – members and non-members – to buy MTA merchandise! We are starting slow with just a few T-shirt options, but if there is interest from members, the Board could expand it. Check out the MTA store – Who would not want to proudly wear a T-shirt of the mighty MTA, made up of members who have built the finest public education system in the country?
Help UMass Amherst Students Recover From Fire
A devastating fire destroyed an apartment complex occupied by UMass Amherst students over the weekend, resulting in the displacement of 230 people. The apartments at Olympia Place are a complete loss. Students left homeless are being relocated to on-campus housing, but the relief effort is ongoing. The university chancellor recently posted an update. Please contribute if you can.
Solidarity School Workshops
Solidarity School is a dynamic series of training and popular education workshops designed to meet the urgency of our political moment with clarity, courage, and collective action. Upcoming classes include Navigating the Classroom & U.S. Immigration for Returning Faculty,
Community Defense and Rapid Response for Educators and Civil Disobedience & Nonviolent Direct Action. See the full list of workshops & register at massteacher.org/solidarityschool.
Nov. 19 Deadline to Register for EMAC Conference
When: Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6
Where: Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center
Join the Ethnically Marginalized Affairs Committee at its annual conference. The event, with the theme “Rooted in Justice, Powered by Unity!” will open Friday with featured poet and educator, Princess Moon, followed by the sounds of The KabuJazz Duo. Saturday will include workshops, community circles and a plenary session with Javier Luengo-Garrido, deputy field director for regional engagement at the ACLU of Massachusetts. Learn more and register before the Nov. 19 deadline.
Political Education
Writer Eric Blanc writes about how Zohran Mamdani won a most improbable victory to become the Mayor-elect of New York City. There’s precedent for electing a democratic socialist to office: Blanc shares what can be learned from the so-called “sewer socialists,” mayors and city councilors in a number of cities, most notably Milwaukee, in the early decades of the 20th century. The socialist leadership in Milwaukee and other cities made some remarkable investments – including fixing the sewers! – to improve the lives of working people.
In solidarity,
Max and Deb