As a result of issues that surfaced during the BTU election, the union president was charged with digging in deep into the election process and making recommendations. (Read the president’s report, along with all supporting documents.) Based on the president’s recommendations and the BTU’s Executive Board’s input, an ad-hoc committee has been set up, and we are looking for members to volunteer to serve. The committee is charged with a variety of responsibilities, and their first meeting will be on February 25. All members on good standing are welcomed to apply, but no more than 15 members will be selected for this committee. See the form of interest. The deadline for applications is next Tuesday, February 9. Thank you. Please email Richard with questions.
Tomorrow, February 3, AFT’s General Counsel David Strom is giving a presentation on the Friedrichs case at the BTU, at our invitation. The Friedrichs case, heard last week at the Supreme Court, threatens collective bargaining rights throughout the country and has wide-ranging ramifications for our schools. Read a report from the Economic Policy Institute. Attorney Strom’s presentation will begin promptly at 4:30. All members are invited, and refreshments will be served. For those interested in the ramifications of this case, this is a must-attend event.
The BTU negotiating team begins negotiating with the Boston School Department today, from 3-8 PM. The last round took close to 30 months to conclude. We are hopeful that we can work together with the BSD to wrap this round up in a more expeditious manner. You are represented at the bargaining table by teachers Erik Berg (Philbrick), Gary Fisher (Timilty), Melanie Livingston (Hernandez), and Nicole Mullen (BAA) as well as Ed Doherty, former BTU president and current administrative assistant to the president of the AFTMA. We are joined by BTU counsel Matthew Dwyer and the entire BTU elected staff. Because of strict confidentiality rules surrounding the bargaining process, we cannot provide you with our progress at each step of the way. We will, however, meet with our 50-member collective bargaining team at various times during the process.
Last week we sent BTU Building Representatives a packet of information concerning the charter cap phone call campaign set to go this week. Please email Angela with questions.
This Friday is “Restore the Budget Cuts Day.” BTU Building Reps have been sent stickers (see samples below), and we ask all of our members to wear their easy-peel stickers on Friday to protest budget cuts. Please email Jessica or Shanika with questions about the stickers or for more. Thank you.
