Election Opportunities for MTA Ethnic Minority Members
– MTA Statewide and Regional Delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly
– Regional Ethnic Minority Delegates to the MTA Annual Meeting
– Other Opportunities for Election
Our strength as a union is built on member engagement and union democracy. From the local, to the state, to the national level, we need members to speak, act, and organize. Fighting for racial justice requires that we work to bring a diversity of voices into our union democracy. Our union will be stronger when ethnic minority members participate in MTA and NEA election processes at the local, state, and national levels. We urge local presidents and MTA Directors to encourage ethnic minority members to take advantage of these opportunities for involvement. All MTA and NEA election information may be accessed at the MTA website: www.massteacher.org.
MTA Statewide and Regional Delegates to NEA Representative Assembly (NEA RA)
The 2017 NEA Representative Assembly will be held June 30 through July 5, 2017 in Boston. This is the meeting of representatives from all NEA state associations, and MTA is pleased to be hosting this nation-wide gathering in Massachusetts this year. At the NEA RA, policies are voted on and set regarding a range of issues critical to educators from testing, to economic and racial justice, to electoral politics, and more. It is an opportunity for democratic engagement and making national connections to build our movement and strength.
We are committed to even greater involvement by MTA ethnic minority members in all organizational activities, and now particularly in the 2017 Representative Assembly. This policy is expressed in NEA Bylaw 3-1(g), and its intent is strongly supported by MTA through its Minority Involvement Plan. According to NEA Bylaw 3-1 (g), it is the policy of the NEA to achieve ethnic minority delegate representation at least equal to the proportion of identified ethnic minority populations within the state. NEA defines ethnic minority by statistical compilation as published by the U.S. Bureau of the Census – American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, and Other Racial or Ethnic Minority (includes Cape Verdean).
MTA will conduct elections for the statewide, regional, and retired delegates to the NEA RA. The nomination deadline is Friday, January 13, 2017. Election details and access to the self-nomination form can be found online at www.massteacher.org/nomform.
All active members also have the option of running as local delegates to the NEA RA. To pursue that option, contact your president to inquire about the process and timeline for your local.
MTA provides travel funding through a stipend to NEA RA delegates, subject to an accountability requirement. A $1200 stipend is provided to statewide, regional, and retired delegates, and a $400 stipend is provided to local delegates.
The Policy/Procedure on the Nomination and Election of Statewide and Regional Delegates to the NEA RA is available upon request.
Regional Ethnic Minority Delegates to the MTA Annual Meeting
The 2017 Annual Meeting of Delegates will be held May 19 and 20 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. In this meeting, delegates from across the state gather to vote on policies and set the direction for the MTA in the year ahead. Your voice matters.
There are 50 seats available for Regional Ethnic Minority Delegates to the MTA Annual Meeting. Each electoral region (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H) is entitled to ethnic minority representation of delegates equal to the number of district directors from that region.
If you are an active member and an ethnic minority employed within one of the eight regions listed above, you are eligible for delegate status in this category. The nomination deadline is Friday, January 13, 2017. Election details and access to the self-nomination form can be found online at www.massteacher.org/nomform.
The Policy/Procedure for the Nomination and Election of Regional Ethnic Minority Delegates to the MTA Annual Meeting of Delegates is available upon request.
All active members also have the option of running as local delegates to the MTA Annual Meeting. To pursue that option, contact your local president to inquire about the process and timeline for your local.
Other Opportunities for Election
Elections will be held for various seats on the MTA Board of Directors as well as the MTA Executive Committee. Please refer to the MTA website for the list of Regions and Districts up for election. In addition, MTA will elect two NEA Directors this coming year. Ethnic Minority members are encouraged to consider serving in these roles. These seats each require filing of nomination papers with signatures; papers and further information may be obtained from the Division of Governance (contact information below).
NEA Directors represent MTA on the NEA Board of Directors. They work to set policy and inform the direction of the NEA. The MTA Board of Directors and Executive Committee work with the leadership to set policy and inform the direction of the MTA. These positions, governing NEA and MTA, are critical to our union democracy.
See the MTA Web site www.massteacher.org for details.
The deadline for filing nomination papers for NEA Director is Friday, January 13, 2017.
The deadline for filing nomination papers for MTA Board of Directors and Executive Committee is Friday, March 3, 2017.
Nomination and Election Details
Election information, deadlines, and relevant self-nomination forms with bio/statement grids were published in the Fall issue of MTA Today.
All MTA and NEA election information may be accessed at the MTA Web site: www.massteacher.org
Please do consider serving in an elected role for MTA. The strength of our union is grounded in the engagement of members in our union’s democratic structures.
MTA Elections Contact Information
If you have any questions regarding the nomination or election process, and to obtain nomination paperwork and copies of MTA Bylaws and Policies, please contact John Connelly, Division of Governance & Administration, jconnelly@massteacher.org or 617.878.8305.
The chair of the Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee (EMAC) is also available to assist you with information on the NEA and MTA delegate nomination and election processes. Yan Yii can be reached via e-mail at yanyyii@gmail.com.