Important Upcoming Dates

 


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 participated in public forums pertaining to our jobs. The next step our CAT (contract action team) has organized is a Walk-In on Wednesday April 10. 

 

This Walk-In is going to be held in order to show our strength and support for one of our top proposals this year: Paid Parental Leave.  In 2021, workers in the private sector of MA were granted 12 weeks of paid parental leave (NOT FROM SICK TIME) from the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act.  This act excluded municipal workers (teachers).  Our walk-in at each school will be held in unison with 10 other districts across the Northshore who are currently in negotiations: Beverly, Gloucester, Revere, Ipswich, Hamilton-Wenham, Masco, Danvers, Salem, Marblehead and Chelsea.  

 

Before school, we will meet at the time and locations listed below and we will walk into school together. It is important that we take this collective action not only to demonstrate that we are the engine that drives our schools but that our unity and solidarity as a union is strong across the district.  This is not a work to rule day, just 20-25 minutes of showing our collective agreement that this is an important topic that needs to be addressed at our bargaining table.  We want everything to go smoothly and to ensure that educators get to school on time. We’re walking into schools to support future parents, teachers, students and our public schools, not to disrupt them!

 

We will have signs for everyone to hold at both buildings, as well as coffee and donuts.  Please join us at the following times and locations:

 

GMHS: Wednesday April 10th 7:00 – 7:20 at stop sign near Verizon Building

Penn Brook: Wednesday April 10th 8:00 – 8:25 Kindergarten parking lot grassy area


Finally, we are asking members to not get involved in any exchanges on any social media accounts with parents.  Presenting factual information in a professional manner is fine but please refrain from any back and forth dialogue that only causes both parties angst.  Most of it is noise.  Ignore it and stay focused.  


The GEA Executive Board

 

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