Rockland Education Association

A member of the MTA network

2022 MTA Summer Conference Is Back In Person!!!

5-25-22

Here is the communication from MTA. This conference is beneficial to current association officers, board members as well as any other REA member who is considering getting involved with the union. We have vacancies within the association for building reps, and a grievance chair. Anyone interested in the positions should sign up for this conference. It will provide the needed training to fulfil the expectations of the positions. Please contact me with any question.

 

Sharon

To: MTA Board of Directors
  MTA Local Presidents
  MTA Staff

MTA Committee Chairs

 
From: Merrie Najimy, MTA President
  Max Page, MTA Vice President

 
Subject: RE: MTA Summer Conference 
   

 

We are excited to announce the return of MTA Summer Conference to the campus at UMass Amherst, from Sunday, July 31, to Wednesday, August 3.  We are going LIVE for the first time in three years! 

 

MTA has continued building its collective power, and we’ve been admiring the efforts of workers at Amazon and Starbucks as they organize to fight for their right to unionize and have a real say in their working conditions. So we invited them to join us. 

 

We are thrilled to announce that Chris Smalls and Derrick Palmer from the Amazon Labor Union and Massachusetts members of Starbucks Workers United will join us at Summer Conference! 

 

Working together with these fantastic organizers, Summer Conference will help us prepare for the fights ahead, including winning the Fair Share Amendment to get much-needed money for public education and transportation; electing a new governor; winning fair contracts for our members; and ensuring racial, social and economic justice for our members, students, families and communities.  

 

Participants can look forward to a slate of powerful plenary sessions, workshops focused on developing their union and leadership skills, and fun social events that will bring the community together. 

 

Summer Conference is free to attend! Participants can choose from the following programs: 

  • NEW! Bargaining Certification Program
  • NEW! Grassroots Organizing Bootcamp
  • NEW! Higher Ed Summer Series: Special Topics for Higher Ed Members
  • New Member Program
  • New Presidents Leadership Academy
  • Union Skills Academy

 

For more information about each of these programs and to register, visit massteacher.org/summer. Space is limited in each program. 

 

Are you looking for PDPs this summer? More information will be announced at massteacher.org/pdps later this week! 

 

 

 

Fair Share Amendment Summer Organizing!!!

Below please find an email from MTA regarding the Fair Share Amendment and Summer Organizing!! It is pretty much make your own hours!!

5-24-22

Dear MTA Member,

 

The MTA is looking for members to reach out to fellow educators about what it means to be All In for the union and to educate parents and other community allies to help pass the Fair Share Amendment in November.

 

We encourage you to consider applying to become part of our highly successful Summer Member Organizing program.

 

In the months ahead, Summer Member Organizers will canvass and phone other members to have conversations about growing and strengthening our local unions and/or reach out to the community to support and help pass the Fair Share Amendment ballot measure — also known as the Millionaires’ Tax.

 

If selected, you will receive training from organizing experts and put your skills to work for several weeks. You will then be able to take the organizing skills you have learned and apply them in your own local, assisting in the orientation of new members and continuing the fight to pass the ballot measure in November.

 

The following positions are available:

 

Lead Member Organizer: $31 per hour, 30 hours per week — $930 per week plus business mileage.

Summer Member Organizer: $26 per hour, 25 hours per week — $650 per week plus business mileage.

 

Please consider learning more and submitting an application today!

 

 

In solidarity,

Merrie and Max

 

 

 

 

Ratification 5-4-22

The Teacher’s tentative agreement was ratified on 5-4-22. A new three year contract has passed 106 (yes)-24 (n0). I would like to thank the negotiations team of Fred Damon (Head Negotiator),  Kathy Paulding (RHS,), Mary Scopelleti Howes (MS), Emeila Caliri (MS), Check McDonald (MS), Julie McDonnell (Esten) and Lisa Lemieux (MTA) for their contributions and what they individually bring to the table during the process. 

Union Skills Workshop and Trainings

Every winter, the Division of Training & Professional Learning offers skill-building workshops for union activists and leaders. Below is the link to the 2022 Union Skills Winter Workshops. You do have to Pre Register.  There are many excellent workshops to choose from. We are always looking to build the association and many of the workshops will interest anyone who is looking to get involved. 

https://massteacher.org/events-and-conferences/union-skills