Today is the day to GET OUT THE VOTE! As is the case in every election, each vote is critical, and we cannot stress enough the importance of voting today if you have not done so already. At this point, you must vote in person today from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. or drop off your ballot at a certified site. All voting information can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.
In Massachusetts, there are several important races and ballot questions. We are ALL IN to vote YES on questions 1 and 4, as well as Maura Healey for Governor, Diana DiZoglio for Auditor, and Deb Goldberg for Treasurer. For a full list of BTU-endorsed candidates, please visit btu.org/btuvotes. If you would like to volunteer in person today, please go to the Jobs with Justice office at 375 Centre St in Jamaica Plain between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.! If you can’t make it there, check out other in-person launches or phone banking events here. You can also call or text our Political Organizer, Roberto Jimenez, at 603-260-9448 for more information. There is a significant amount of last-minute misinformation being circulated — in some cases by anonymous text — both by opponents of Question 1 and by opponents of our endorsed candidate for auditor, Diana DiZoglio. Please be wary of these efforts to distract and divide us as we seek to ensure the wealthiest pay their fair share and that we have a champion for public education and for workers’ rights in the auditors office.
Our November membership meeting is TOMORROW, November 9 at 4:30 p.m. It will be an in-person meeting. You do NOT need to register, though, as always, you should bring your BTU card for admittance. (We will have a problem-solving table for those who do not have their card, but you must bring a photo ID or BPS pay stub.) If you need childcare, please register here.
Building Reps: If you haven’t already done so, please remember to help us identifywhich Building Rep or BTU member will be the point person for your school to be able to view facilities updates. We will be in touch once we get more details on the next steps.
November is Native American Heritage Month! Visit the official NAHM website for resources on incorporating Native American history and culture into your lesson plans from the Library of Congress, National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution and more.
We will be hosting a celebration of life for Cheryl Kelly, our beloved Executive Board member, nurse activist, and union friend this Sunday, November 13 at the Union Hall from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Please wear blue, Cheryl’s favorite color. Light refreshments will be served. If you would like to make remarks or submit a picture of Cheryl, please do so here.
Finally, this week will be a short week because Veterans Day is Friday. We honor and celebrate those who have served our country, including many current and retired BTU educators. Thank you for your service and your sacrifices!