Who we are

Who we are We are MTA members concerned about the future of public education, our union, the teaching profession, and the education workplace. We want the MTA to work with parents, students, community organizations, and other unions to popularize a powerful vision for public education and public life more generally.  We want to be part of a union that fights back against attacks on education and so-called “reforms” that actually undermine quality universal public education.  Because we know that what happens beyond the classroom has a profound effect on our students’ ability to succeed in our schools, we want an MTA that will fight equally hard for a more just society.  

The election of Barbara Madeloni gives is great hope about the future of MTA.  In recent years, we have gone along with major compromises, passed by our supposed allies in the legislature, to take away collective bargaining rights over health insurance, worsen pensions for future educators, increase the number of charter schools, and increase the importance of test scores in our schools.  In trying to get along with Democratic leaders, or in following poll-driven strategies, we have sometimes been too willing to compromise and not willing enough to fight for our core principles, for what we know is best for our members, our students, and our state. We are encouraged that the union membership voted to move in a new, more positive direction.

EDU 2013-2014 Coordinating Committee:
Lynn Brown, Cambridge Teachers Association (K-12)
Dan Clawson, UMass Amherst MSP (Higher Ed)
Max Page, UMass Amherst MSP (Higher Ed)
Jamie Rinaldi, Newton Teachers Association (K-12)
Jean Sherlock, Chicopee Education Association (K-12)

Our principles

We offer the following principles for public education in our Commonwealth, and principles for how our union will be most effective in achieving our goals.

Please join us in building the progressive union, and society, we all want. 

 A Progressive Agenda for Public Education

 1. To thrive, our democracy requires public, not corporate, education

 2.  Respect and Support Teachers and Education Workers 

3.  Poverty Undermines the Education of Our Children

4.  Educate the Whole Child, Don’t Teach to the Test

5.  Race, Immigration Status, and Sexual Preference should not be barriers to education

6.  Free, high-quality public higher education for all

 7.  Defend the contributions of unions, including collective bargaining

8.  Build a pro-active “bottom-up” and “inside-out” union with a long-range vision

9.  Concessions of hard won rights and benefits must be a last resort, not a starting point

-Read more-

NOTE:  These principles are a continuing work in progress.  Comments and suggestions invited.
-The Coordinating Committee for EDU
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