Posts

Post Override Fail Update

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Dear Colleagues: The override vote has been devastating for membership.  The GEA will be pushing hard for any and all cuts to come from other areas that do not involve direct service providers.  We want to assure members that we will be going over every cut with a fine tooth comb to make sure all contractual language was followed.  We would like to direct membership to Article XXIV-Layoff and Recall clause located on pages 19-22 of our current contract to learn more.  That language specifically outlines the steps that the district needs to follow.  We would like to specifically point out Section 2 A and B on page 20. 2A- To the extent possible and practical, normal attrition will be the first method used, to reduce the number of teaching positions in those classifications and/or department in which reductions are necessary.  That is, teachers who resign, retire, or otherwise terminate their employment shall not be replaced.  Also, included in this paragraph are those teachers without p
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Bargaining Update

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Dear Colleagues, We would like to inform you that today's negotiating meeting went well, but it did not. The district was woefully unprepared and had minimal counter proposals to the numerous proposals that they have yet to address. The GEA negotiating team is prepared with responses to all of the district's proposals and responses. It is clear that some members of the district negotiating team do not view us as members of the community despite the time, expertise, energy, resources, and emotion that we pour into our work within the community.  Our hope is to have a more productive bargaining session to go through responses to proposals and counters on both sides.  Please mark the following open bargaining sessions in your calendars  to show them that we are invested in this community : Tuesday, May 28 @ 4:30 pm Wednesday, June 5 @ 4:30 pm Wednesday, June 12 @ 4:30 pm Please make every effort to attend the next School Committee meeting on 5/23 at 6:30.  In solidarity, GEA Negot
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GEA bargaining information HQ Link

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Update

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  Dear Colleagues: The GEA/ district administration Google Survey to see if any of the involuntarily transferred members are able to either stay in the position that they currently hold or a position of their choice is completed.  Due to this still being a very fluid situation with the pending override vote happening today/tonight, we will be holding onto the survey until the financial picture becomes more clear in the next few days. Last Thursday, May 9th, we had our 2nd GCAT/PAT Meeting.  The group penned a very strong statement coauthored by both parents and educators with the intention of reading the statement at the May 23rd School Committee meeting.  Please keep that date available because we will be looking for union support at the meeting. Tomorrow, May 14th, we will have our next Negotiating Meeting at the GMHS Cafeteria beginning at 4:30 PM.  It is IMPORTANT that as many members attend these meetings.  We know the weather is getting better and everyone is tired but settling f
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Update- Level I Grievance: Members Children Attending GPS

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Dear Colleagues: We wanted to update you on the latest union happenings. On Wednesday, May 8th we filed a Level I Grievance on behalf of membership stating that Article XXXIV-Members Children Attending GPS.  Two members were denied this contractual language allowing their children to enroll in Kindergarten.   The GEA, along with district administration is working on putting together a Google Survey to see if any of the involuntarily transferred members are able to either stay in the position that they currently hold or a position of their choice.  Due to this being a very fluid situation with the pending override vote, etc, we are hopeful that some sort of compromise can be met in the next few weeks. Today, Thursday, May 9th, we have our 2nd GCAT/PAT Meeting.  On May 14th, we will have our next Negotiating Meeting at the GMHS Cafeteria beginning at 4:30 PM.  We are hopeful that as many members as possible can continue to attend as silent members of our team.    The negotiating team wou
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Union Update

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Dear Colleagues: On the heels of a successful parent/educator forum, we have our first combined (GCAT)-Georgetown Contract Action Team and (PAT) Parent Action Team meeting slated for this Thursday, May 2nd.  At this meeting, we will discuss our next collective steps to address district leadership and the serious morale issue.   The Negotiating Team will also be meeting on May 2nd to discuss the district's last set of proposals and formulating our responses.  This Friday, May 3rd, MTA Rep Kevin Tierney and I will be listening to a district response regarding the "Involuntary Transfers" grievance filed and heard a few weeks back.  We will update membership with the district response, asap. Tuesday, May 14th is our next Negotiating Bargaining session.  A reminder that the session will be held in the GMHS Cafeteria beginning at 4:30 PM.  Silent members please be in the cafeteria by 4:15 PM and we need as many members to be there as possible. Finally, I want to remind all memb
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Contract negotiations and upcoming important dates.

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  Dear Colleagues: Thank you once again for showing up to negotiations this afternoon.  Your presence was valuable and continues to hold the district bargaining team accountable. Our union starts with you!  Our main focus at this session was to emphasize the importance of providing the benefit of  paid family and medical leave for members as many private sector employees and other public school educators are already receiving. Thank you to Lauren Dennett for sharing her personal story to help us fight for our collective benefits regarding this proposal. If you have a story or testimonial related to the proposals that you'd like to share, please send it along to Kevin Tierney ( ktierney@massteacher.org ) and members of the GEA negotiating team.  As Corey mentioned near the end of the session, the GEA has tentatively accepted 44% of the district's proposals, while they have tentatively accepted just 18% of our proposals.  Please mark the following upcoming negotiation meetings in
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GEA Parent Teacher Forum to be help in the Penn Brook Cafe, Thursday April 25 at 5:30 p.m.

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Important Upcoming Dates

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  4/10-Paid Parental Leave Walk In   (See description below) 4/10-Negotiating Meeting at GMHS Library .  Silent negotiating team members please be in the GMHS Library by 4:00 PM.  We need as many silent members to attend, as possible.  Your presence at these meetings is very important.   4/22-Level II Grievance regarding transfers - After many rounds of back and forth with the superintendent on dates and times, she has agreed to tentatively hear our grievance on 4/22 at 3:30 PM and only over ZOOM.  The GEA is still discussing this option and will let membership know the date and time that this grievance will be heard, as soon as possible. 4/25 Tentative-Parent/Teacher Forum.   Time & place to be determined.  We are asking as many members to attend this meeting as possible.  MOre information will be forthcoming. Paid Parental Leave Walk-In    As you know, we are in contract negotiations. We have worn our union shirts, showed up as silent representatives at bargaining, and participat
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Scheduling conflict to hear out Level II Grievance

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Dear Colleagues: We just received word that Dr. Ferrick has a "Scheduling conflict" and is unable to hear our Level II Grievance tomorrow (Thursday, April 4th at 3:30 PM) as planned. She suggested the meeting be moved to this Friday at 1:00 PM.  We, too, have a scheduling problem with that date and time.  We suggested next Wednesday at 3:15 PM at GMHS and segue from the grievance meeting right into our negotiations meeting.  We are awaiting her response. Tomorrow night, Thursday, April 4th is the Penn Brook public forum that begins at 6:00 PM.  We are asking members to be at Penn Brook at 5:30 PM with their signs and ready to join the meeting at 6:00 PM.  WE NEED YOU THERE TO ASK QUESTIONS THAT WE NEED ANSWERS TO.  Showing up is one thing but actively participating is another.  We look forward to seeing you tomorrow night. Joe 
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