Local elections for MCLA Chapter representatives have completed. In uncontested races, Seth Bean has been re-elected as Chapter President, and Deborah Raber has been elected Chapter Vice-President.
Thank you to all who participated in the voting process, as well as our Elections and Nominations Committee Members, Jenn Labbance and Charlie Cianfarini.
In July 2020, Governor Baker signed into law a bill that recognizes Juneteenth (June 19th) as an official state holiday. The annual commemoration marks the day when Union Gen. Gordon Granger reached Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people were free. That day – June 19, 1865 – was more than two years after Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln. We have signed a Memoradum of Agreement with the Board of Higher Education to recognize this state holiday in our collective bargaining agreement. Per our agreement, Saturday holidays will be observed on the Friday preceding the holiday, and Sunday holidays will be observed on the following Monday.
The APA and the BHE have reached a Memorandum of Agreement regarding an Early Retirement Incentive Program. The 9 state university presidents will be reaching out to each local chapter regarding their institutions participation. A meeting to discuss MCLA’s participation is pending; any news will be shared as it is available. Any questions, please contact Seth Bean, APA MCLA Chapter President.
A post from the State-wide APA President, Sherry Horeanopoulos, is available at https://www.maapa.org/board
APA Members may be interested in attending the 2021 NEA Virtual Pre-Summit Higher Education Conference, Wednesday, March 10th – Friday, March 12th. In addition, higher education members are encouraged to participate in the NEA Leadership Summit being held Friday evening to Sunday, March 12-14.
This year’s conference theme is Our Democracy. Our Responsibility. Our Time!: Higher Ed Building the Foundation for Collective Action. During this unprecedented time of COVID, the conference will provide a virtual venue for NEA Higher Ed members and state affiliate staff who share the common interest of advancing the educational issues and job concerns of Higher Education employees in public and private universities, and community, technical, and state colleges; and of organizing and building strong locals through the framework of the NEA Leadership Competencies.
To register, CLICK HERE.Registration fee is $30 for the 2021 NEA Virtual Higher Education Conference only and $50 for the 2021 NEA Virtual Higher Education Conference AND Leadership Summit. Please register for the conference as soon as possible. Registration closes Friday, February 19th.
For questions, please contact Karla Medina at HigherEdConference@nea.org.
Refer to the NEA Higher Education website for registration update.
The APA will reimburse up to 3 local chapter members for their NEA Conference registration. The Local may select up to 2 additional members who would like to attend. Please let your local chapter know if you would like to participate.
MTA Higher Ed Division is offering a Winter Skills Conference closer to home this year. Any one interested in learning more about union skills is encouraged to attend. We can help with accommodations if interested. Space is limited, so please contact Seth as soon as you can to reserve your spot!
The MTA has some great opportunities this month – Check them out!
https://www.mtabenefits.com/giveaway-registration
| DATES | YOU COULD WIN A… | NUMBER OF WINNERS |
|---|---|---|
| August 19 – September 16 | $500 Visa gift card | 2 winners |
| November 11 – 19 | $150 Bed Bath & Beyond gift card | 2 winners |
| January 20 – 27 | $100 99 Restaurant gift card | 3 winners |
| March 16 – 23 | $100 Gap Options gift card | 3 winners |
| May 11 – 18 | $150 Lowe’s gift card | 2 winners |
| July 13 – 20 | $50 Fandango gift card | 5 winners |
Our MTA Retirement consultant has some more time slots available for phone consultations on the wide variety of topics associated with retirement. He has released some new 40 minute phone consultation appointments for those interested.
Here are the time slots available:
Interested members should email Ed McCourt (emccourt@massteacher.org) with the day(s) that would be possible for you and the time(s) at which you can accept Ed’s call. In your reply,please include your best phone contact and your MTA membership card number. Anyone without card may secure your membership number by calling MTA’s Division of Affiliate Services at 1-800-392-6175 ext. 8208, or contact Seth or Charlie directly.
I know Ed has helped a couple members here at MCLA recently, and I’m glad to provide this information should anyone else need to ask any questions.
Since July 1, 2019 fell in the middle of a pay period, the Commonwealth is processing our contractual increase in the next pay period, July 7-July 20, and will include the small amount of retro pay for July 1-6 in the pay advise that is available for that pay period on July 26. You will see your new rate in the July 26 pay advise; your pay advise this Friday, July 12 will not show any changes in your rate.
If you do not see your changed rate in the July 26 pay advise and were expecting one, please contact me. For those of you who are receiving additional rate changes as a result of the salary adjustment process, you should be getting a letter from HR directly regarding the timing of that.
The MTA has a consultant that assists with retirement planning and navigating the process for preparing for retirement. Often the sessions available for this consultant are in the easter part of the state as a result of the population concentration. The consultant has emailed me and would like to offer his services via phone for individual members that wish to speak to him about the wide range of topics surrounding retirement.
He will be available to speak with individual members for up to 40-minutes on Tuesday (7/9) and Wednesday (7/10) at the times listed below. Interested parties should email him with the day(s) that would be possible for you and the time(s) at which you could accept his call. In your replies members should include your best phone contact and your MTA membership card number. Anyone without card may secure your membership number by calling MTA’s Division of Affiliate Services at 1-800-392-6175 ext. 8208 or by contacting me.
He will respond to members with a confirmation as soon as possible.
Edward G McCourt
MTA Retirement Consultant – Higher Ed
APA members – Important Action item below!
We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to repair the persistent funding inequality that exists at in public Higher Education in our state. Consider the following facts:
-Massachusetts is underfunding its state colleges and universities by more than 500 million dollars per year according to a state commission that studied the issue
-State investment in public higher education is down 31% from its peak in 2001
-Student loan debt has more than doubled since 2004
-The Cherish Act in the State House now is worth over eight million dollars in funding to Mass Art per year.
In mid-May legislators will be in the middle of their annual budget debate and they will be thinking about how much money they can put into our schools, colleges and
Click here to register for the May 16th events:
RSVP today for the 5/16 #FundOurFuture Rally at the State House (Free bus transportation is available) universities. Come to Boston on May 16th to show legislators that they must deliver legislation that fully funds our college NOW.
We are organizing a major rally and march around the State House starting at 5 p.m. Free bus transportation will be provided. We need you with us on May 16th, along with your co-workers, family and friends. Please sign up today!
MCLA APA Chapter 