​Dear Members,


First, I would like to extend my gratitude to the members who held signs at the last negotiating/mediation session. Your presence made a difference. Due to the nature of negotiations, our actions following each session are staggered. It is a fluidprocess. However, they are based on the outcome following each meeting with Administration/School Committee.

Our next negotiation/mediation session, is Wednesday, March 30, 2016. We are not asking anyone to be present or take action at this session. 

Prior to this meeting, the ground rules (drafted by the Association and School Committee, with mutual agreement), stated that any discussion outside of negotiations would result in an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) and the Association would be brought to court. This would shut down negotiations completely. 

Now that we are in mediation (I will use this term going forward), we can formally update the membership about the "State of the Union." 

On Wednesday, April 13, 2106, the negotiating team and our MTA representative, Josh Levitt, will hold a meeting for all Unit A members. This is purely informational. It is not a ratification. It will be held at Hajjars restaurant in Weymouth, from 3:45-5:30. 

This is your chance to be informed and in effect, be part of the mediation process. 

Regards,
Ydana Chella
WEA President

Dear Members,

Plan to attend the upcoming negotiation session, March 22, 2016. We will be holding signs outside of the Administration Building. Members should arrive arrive around 3:30/3:45. Please consider making a sign which reads, "We support a Fair Contract." There will be a limited number of pre-made signs. 

If members could remain outside until 4:30, that would be ideal. Please stand on either side of the two doorways, nearest to the parking lot. The goal is to have SC walk through members as they enter the building. There is no guarantee this will happen, but SC and Administration will know you are outside. Do not block the doorways. 

If you have a pin, please wear it. More pins have been ordered. 

Regards,
Ydana Chella
WEA President

Weymouth Educators:
·       Are you opposed to lifting the cap on Charter Schools?

• Are you concerned about the overuse and misuse of standardized testing?
• Are you tired of hearing that we don’t having funding for education?
• Are you feeling overwhelmed with the many initiatives and mandates and don’t have time to teach the students?

If you answered yes to these questions then I need you to join me at a meeting with Representative James Murphy to let him know that we’ve had enough and we need his support on these important legislative issues!

Meeting with Rep. James Murphy
Weymouth High School Library
Thursday, March 24th
4:00-5:30 p.m.
 
Lynn Howard
Weymouth Educators Association
Political Action Leader
 
If you have any questions about the meeting you can reach me at lynnphoward82@comcast.net

​Dear Members,


Elections will be held for the office of President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The officers will serve for two years, school year 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. 

According to Article X- Section 2(a)- "The officers will be chosen by General Election. They shall serve two years and may be re-elected without an intervening term." 

If you would like to run for any of the positions listed above, please attend the next Representative Council Meeting, March 15, 2016, at Adams School, 3:45-5:30. 

Regards,
Ydana Chella
WEA President

​Building Reps,


I need your help-our meeting with Rep. Murphy was cancelled and rescheduled for Thursday, March 24th from 4:00-5:30 p.m. at the Weymouth High School Library.  It's really important that we have representation from every building and every level at the meeting so that we can show Rep. Murphy that we need his help passing the MTA legislative agenda items.  If people are there he'll know how important these issues are, if I'm there by myself or with just one or two people he won't take us seriously!  


I know we're all busy-but this is really important and I can't fight alone and win but it's "winable" if educators join together and push the legislators to fight for us!  If you don't take time out to show up for this and help fight for things that will have an impact on our jobs then as Bob Kostka (the MTA Senator District Coordinator for our area) says "you've lost your right to bitch about what happens as a result".


So please mark your calendar and spread the word!


Thanks so much!

​Dear Members,


We met with School Committee/Administration tonight for yet another three hour negotiating session. Despite, all possible remedies, it is safe to say that we are at an impasse. I am frustrated, and I hope you are as well.

Please take that frustration and put it to use for the Association. If we want a fair and equitable contract, we have to show SC that we are willing to fight for it. It is disappointing that it has come to this, but our contract is undeniably worth fighting for. Their position will only be swayed if we take action. 

High School Teachers: NEASC is an issue upon which the HS staff is divided. If you receive a stipend, you should participate on March 6th. If you do not receive a stipend, do not attend. This is the next logical Union action. This is an ideal platform upon which we can leverage further negotiations. It is not meant to single out a specific school. 

All members should plan on attending the next School Committee meeting on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 6:15, WHS Humanities Center. We WILL hold signs. It will be undeniable that we are there as Unit A members to advocate for a fair contract. I will formally request to speak at this meeting. 

At the risk of micromanaging this action, members should stand shoulder to shoulder from the entrance of the building to the entrance of the Humanities Center. I know BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT this will have an effect on School Committee. This will only be effective if we have hundreds of set of eyes looking at them as they pass.

Other political parties tried to use our attendance at the last SC meeting for their political gain. They said we attended because of NEASC. While severalmembers may have attended due to NEASC, the request was for Unit A members to attend to push for a reasonable contract. WE know the truth. 

The Patriot Ledger said, "Parents packed Thursday's meeting and urged the committee to push for the full amount (fully funded budget/contract negotiations)." I called the Patriot Ledger and asked for a correction. "Parents" should be changed to the word "Teachers." The Patriot Ledger said that "my request did not warrant a correction." Personally, I would cancel my subscription to the Patriot Ledger, if I had one. 

Negotiations are tiring and frustrating. But now they border on insulting. Tonight, a SC member would not make eye contact with me until I spoke his/her name directly. By ignoring me, they in effect, ignore you. Our collective action shows that we will not be ignored. 

We have approximately 500 Unit A members. However, only about 200 members have added their email address on the Weebly site. If you know of someone who is not receiving emails, please direct them to the Weebly site, atweymoutheducators.weebly.com.