Wednesday, September 4, 2019                                                                            3:15-4:15

Starting Time: 3:20                                                                   Adjournment Time: 4:02

Agenda:

1. Presentation of Agenda
2. President’s Remarks
3. Treasurer Reports
4. Grievance Report
5. New Business
6. Old Business
7. Consent Agenda (Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and PAL Reports)

President’s Remarks

Agenda passed without objection

Encourage members to attend all member meetings.

CAT members just need to pass information back and forth. Encourage more to participate to share the load

Only new teachers (i.e. not paras or secretaries) attend the new teacher meeting. Talk to new members in your building and show them your support.

Introductions abound.

Health and Safety Committee is important because OSHA laws apply to public schools.

Laura needs a better way to contact all via private email, and a new webmaster.

Treasurer Report

Absent

Grievance Report

Accepted without objection.

MTA Report

MTA Climate Strike on September 20 was endorsed MTA

NEA 360 implemented. Members visiting throughout summer/summer conference

Fund Our Future – band aid, still pushing for legislative action

Annual Meeting this year in Springfield

New Business

Para Start Times & Contract Issues – Online contracts are not always correct. The union is working to make sure that these are correct and have been making positive changes according to how the contracts are correctly interpreted.

Impact of Mayor on Education – The Chicopee Democrats had already booked the date of our original forum, so we cancelled. We will hold a forum after the primary. Will be providing questions ahead of time so can research and providing time limits.

Funding in Chicopee – Chicopee has spends on average 2% above state minimum whereas West Springfield funds 26% above the state minimum. Attend school committee meetings to influence how they spend money.

City Issues with Insurance and ULP – ULP is related to retro and raises issues taking over a year. We are working to make the process clear and public. Coaches are also due retro.

Office Assists and Clerks – they lost holiday pay. Phone calls and paper copies will help.

PR&O Money – We need a committee to write a grant to the MTA to earn money for Public Relations and Organizing.

Second Chance Breakfast – This is a change in working conditions and we’ll be meeting with Rege to make it work. Contact Laura to sit in at it.

Consent Agenda

Accepted without opposition.

Next meeting at The Elks, October 2