Last week, Harvard Graduate Student Union workers went on strike for fair wages, comprehensive healthcare, and protections against discrimination and sexual harrassment. The BTU was proud to be on the picket line with them in solidarity. Find out more about how to support HGSU-UAW workers. We stand with all workers who are fighting for better conditions on the job.
We are happy to share a retropay update: BPS has confirmed it for this Friday, December 13. We are also currently negotiating the impacts of K-6 expansion, bilingual endorsement, and additional contract implementation items. We will provide updates on those issues at this week’s Monthly Membership Meeting. We hope you will join us at 4:30 pm this Wednesday, December 11. See the agenda and don’t forget to request childcare if needed.
We are diving into next steps for the Fund Our Future campaign. Now that the Student Opportunity Act has been signed into law, we are continuing the fight by building local campaigns to spend the funds provided. This Saturday, December 14, we will be hosting a Fund Our Future Bootcamp along with other members of the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance. Students, parents, and educators from across the state will train together and plan for the next phase of the campaign. We hope you will join us.
Also this Saturday will be the BTU’s Public Education Presidential Candidate Forum Watch Party. MSNBC has agreed to host, with AFT and other national organizations, the live-streamed forum in Pittsburgh. This forum is the final step in the first phase of the AFT’s 2020 endorsement process. Stop by the BTU any time between 10 am-1 pm on Saturday to share your thoughts on the election. Snacks and lunch provided!
AFT MA also wants to hear from you. Join a Tele-Town Hall December 12 and RSVP to join the call. The Tele-Town Hall will include discussions on student debt, school committees, and educator spending on supplies.
Our Inclusion Done Right campaign continues to be a priority for us. We need full staffing and support for both general education students and special education students in inclusion classrooms. We want to hear from you about what you are seeing in your schools. Be sure to fill out the Inclusion Tracker and RSVP to the Inclusion Done Right meeting on January 14 so we can start this new calendar year off strong.
Thank you to all who attended our BTU Holiday Party last week. We enjoyed celebrating the holiday season with members and their loved ones, and we look forward to wrapping up celebrations this year with the Children’s Holiday Party this Sunday, December 15.