By the University Staff Association (USA) Communications Committee
This year, sixteen USA members were elected to attend the MTA Annual Meeting of Delegates – an event where MTA members from across the Commonwealth gather to discuss the organization’s budgets, elect representatives to regional and statewide director positions, and vote on policies and initiatives for the upcoming year.
USA’s Health and Safety Coordinator Proposal Adopted
In continuing the work to bring attention and resolution to the worsening food insecurity crisis, USA’s Health and Safety Coordinator Casey Krone submitted a new business item to “create a statewide task force of PreK-12 and Higher-Ed members that will focus on housing and food insecurity within the union. The task force will lobby for policy changes at the statewide level, including for funding increases for all educators to earn a living wage. Its recommendations will be made to the MTA Board in December 2028.” Incoming USA Chief Steward Camille Godbout-Chouinard and Vice President-Elect Kyle Chambers both spoke in favor of the motion, which was adopted as the result of a vote.
Several USA Colleagues Awarded Bargaining Certificate
(L-R: Kyle Chambers, Deborah Place, Camille Godbout-Chouinard, Chris Weeks. USA President Mary Malinowski was also awarded a bargaining certificate.)
MTA proudly recognized members who completed the course work to earn MTA’s Bargaining Certificate, a 24 hour curriculum designed “provide an opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge of beginner negotiators, while deepening and broadening the proficiency of seasoned negotiators in advanced bargaining issues.” You can already see some of the curriculum’s lessons in action. with the introduction of Silent Bargaining Representatives (SBR’s) and providing more consistent communication throughout USA.
USA joins MTA in supporting Springfield Unions
After the conclusion of the Annual Meeting, members of the delegation joined staff of MGM Springfield as they took to the streets, standing in solidarity with the unions in Springfield who are fighting for reasonable contracts. The first stop was MGM Springfield, who is refusing to bargain with their union after almost a year and a half.
Downtown Springfield came alive with the sounds of chanting from the combined voices of unions, with the message: “Springfield is a UNION town!” The Springfield Educators Association brought reinforcements as they rallied for a new contract after the previous contract expired in 2024.
More Coverage
You can find more specific details from the MTA Annual Meeting of Delegates on the MTA website.
You can also see local news coverage of the stand-out event on the 22News website.
