The last two years mark another milestone in our movement of growing the collective power and unity of educators to win the schools, colleges, unions and communities that we all deserve.
When we began our tenure as President and Vice President, Max Page and I prioritized spending time with locals. Since then, we’ve traveled throughout the state visiting members — coffee and doughnuts in the parking lot, fighting against bullying administrators; walk-ins and rallies for fair contracts; membership meetings strategizing with local campaigns for healthy buildings and student wellness; regional forums raising demands for public education funding via Fund Our Future; retreats with ALANA, the statewide network of members of color; meetings with higher ed chapters planning coordinated bargaining; and ESP emerging leadership retreats dialoguing about ESP needs and actions.
From preK through higher education and within each constituency group — educators of color, Education Support Professionals, LGBTQ+ and new members, and retirees — we hold a common set of aspirations. We all share the quest for dignity and respect in the workplace. We all want our schools and colleges to be fully funded, joyful places where we have the autonomy to cultivate the social, emotional and academic development of our students. We all insist on fair raises, affordable health care, and economic, job and retirement security. These desires and demands center on class, race and our responsibility to protect the planet from the ravages of climate change. The onset of the coronavirus only emphasizes the collective nature of our destiny. When we fight for ourselves, we are building more than a socially, racially and economically just education system. We are building a just society.
These are the hopes and dreams I held during my three decades as an elementary school teacher and my years leading the Concord Teachers Association. I still hold these values as the proud leader of the largest and most powerful union in Massachusetts.
For the story remains the same. If we stay isolated or fight only for our own salaries and working conditions, then we neglect our allies, and everyone suffers. But when we campaign around the common good and connect to each other, to our students and their families, and to likeminded organizations in coalitions, then we protect each other, and everyone wins.
We are building a wave of rankand-file member participation and community coalitions, and we are winning!
In New Bedford, the commissioner of education tried imposing a dangerous new charter school model, drawing a neighborhood zone and expropriating public property. The New Bedford Educators Association, fortified with MTA resources, united with the New Bedford Coalition to Save Our Schools and shut it down.
The Northampton, Haverhill, Belmont, Gloucester and Cambridge locals — to name a few — have developed their knowledge and skills at MTA bargaining summits and are introducing ways to democratize bargaining.
The Dennis-Yarmouth and Monomoy locals connected their contract campaigns to Fund Our Future and won good contracts.
The Somerville paraprofessionals launched a living-wage campaign through their latest contract negotiations.
The Dedham Education Association struck over fair compensation and to win benefits and sexual harassment and student cellphone use policies. They won all of these.
Rank-and-file members of color established the statewide ALANA network; other rank-and-file members and leaders founded regional solidarity networks; others started the MTA Climate Action Network; and retirees created a direct-action network called the Wisdom Warriors.
ESPs are developing a statewide mentorship program to connect ESPs with one another as they engender a sense of belonging and community and build their power.
Higher ed locals ran teach-ins and forums linking preK-12 and higher ed funding as equal priorities.
And then there is our most historic statewide victory since winning Question 2 — the Student Opportunity Act. We insisted that the legislation address the needs of our poorest students and students of color in underfunded districts. We demanded $2 billion and not a penny less. And that’s what we won!
These victories are drawing educators toward the MTA in times of a great assault on union rights. Contrary to the expectations following the Janus decision, our membership numbers are on the rise. Participation is increasing at presidents’ meetings, bargaining summits, member forums and union skills conferences. Rankand-file members are leading our union skills workshops.
This progress is possible because we are shifting union culture to be members gathering to share experiences, learn from each other, determine solutions, and decide on collective actions — actions backed by MTA resources. In doing so we are building a true democracy.
When we say the MTA is behind you, it isn’t just our brilliant legal team, should you need them. It is the full force of the MTA. If you need me and Max Page to show up — we are there. MTA field representatives guide you in all things related to your essential function. If you need an MTA organizer to build local and contract action campaigns — you got it. If you need the communications team to help with messaging — we are there. If you need a poster or flyer design — consider it done. If you need the Wisdom Warriors for a creative action — give them a call. All of the MTA is at your side.
It has been exciting to be at the helm of MTA. Onward in the next two years to:
- Fight for the passage of the Cherish Act for public higher education, to secure justice for adjunct faculty and staff, and to win investment in full-time faculty and staff.
- Formulate campaigns to win an ESP Bill of Rights, including living wages and good working conditions.
- Intensify the fight to end high-stakes testing and for students’ well-being.
- Win debt-free public higher education for every Massachusetts resident.
- Further the movement to democratize bargaining and bargain for the common good.
- Renew our commitment to racial justice and a sustainable planet. I am honored by your support. For even in these challenging times, we know another world is possible.
