As we enter March, we continue to stand in solidarity with West Virginia teachers. We have several major updates to share:
In case you missed it last week, our membership approved our initial contract proposal: Creating the Schools Our Communities Deserve. The priorities were winnowed down from thousands of data points our Negotiating Team and Collective Bargaining Committee poured over for several weeks. Our negotiating team will participate in an “Interest-Based Bargaining” training with the BPS team this month and will begin bargaining shortly after.
While the decision on the Janus vs. AFSCME case will likely not be shared until May or June, we continue our own internal preparations. Thank you again to all of the Building Reps and member-activists who have helped up with the BTU All-In Campaignto achieve 100% participation in your schools. For Building Reps who may need extra support, please contact Farah, your Building Rep Regional Leader or your office staff point person ASAP! If you as a BTU member are not sure if you have a new card signed, please see your rep, call the office, or check online at members.btu.org.
The BTU is proud to be an official co-sponsor of the March for Our Lives. We are mailing stickers for upcoming actions this week to our Building Reps to be distributed to members. For the March 14 action, please work with your administrators to develop school plans and activities. See BPS guidance for March 14. If you need to leave the school for an extended period of time, please use a personal day. We will also be making posters for the March 24 March for our Lives Boston after our membership meeting on March 14.
Lastly, March is Women’s History Month. The BTU will be holding our annual Women’s Rights Breakfast on Saturday, March 31 from 9:30-11:30am at Florian Hall. We are proud to honor City Councilor Anissa Essabi-George, a former BTU member and now the Chair of the City Council Education Committee, as well as Senator Pat Jehlen, a steadfast supporter of public education and teachers. Read more details on the flyer.
Please see below for many important events, opportunities, and resources this week and beyond!
Have a great week.