CTA Members,
CTA meeting
The CTA will have its general meeting Tuesday morning in the CHS auditorium immediately following Dr. D’Auria’s address.
GPO/WEP Petition Drive
A Congressional hearing is scheduled this fall on the GPO/WEP. This is the furthest along in the process that the Social Security Fairness Act legislative proposal has moved. Presently, there is a big movement occurring in the states, like Massachusetts, where the GPO/WEP has such a negative impact on teachers. A nationwide petition drive is underway and the goal is to collect one million signatures and hand- deliver them to Congress when the hearing is held on this bill to repeal these two restrictions. The goal is to collect 100,000 signatures in Massachusetts.
Here is our chance to do something active to help ourselves and other members achieve a benefit that is deservedly ours.
A few of our CTA retirees will be at a table outside of the auditorium on Tuesday to pass out the petitions and information sheets. We are asking all our members to get at least 10 signatures and return the completed petition to me by September 10. Any registered voter can sign a petition. They do not have to be an MTA member. You can start collecting the signatures this weekend by downloading a copy: http://canton.massteacher.org/files/SSpetitionJuly07.pdf
Thank you in advance for participating in this signature drive.
Technology Use Advisory
The MTA has issued an advisory on the use of online activities. Across the country there have been increasing incidents of teachers finding themselves in difficult situations with the use of email, websites, blogs, and the like. This advisory contains useful guidelines to follow at work and at home and all members are urged to review it before the start of school by going to this link: http://canton.massteacher.org/files/On-lineAdvisory.pdf
CTA communication
All are reminded that the CTA will no longer use “first class” as a means of communicating with members. Please do not use your cantonma.org email for union business. Since your school computer, “first class”, and school internet access is publicly owned, there is no right of privacy.
The CTA email address is cantonteachers@gmail.com All replies will be sent to your alternative email address. We have collected the alternative email addresses of 155 members, there are approximately 80 members who have not provided us with one. Without it, these members will not be receiving CTA/MTA updates. Please help to inform those colleagues who are “out of the loop” that free email is available at gmail, yahoo, and hotmail.
Our webpage has a new look and has been updated over the summer by Margaret Mansfield, 5th grade teacher at JFK. As our webmaster, she will be posting information as it becomes available. Please check it regularly http://canton.massteacher.org
Enjoy the last few days of summer!
Katey Swanson, President
CTA