USA Members:

There are seven USA members (listed at the end) who were elected to represent USA at the NEA Representative Assembly (RA) that will be held in Chicago from 29 June through 6 July.  A pre-convention meeting of all delegates from MTA was held in Marlborough Mass. on 8 June to prepare Massachusetts delegates for the R.A.  All USA delegates attended that pre-convention meeting.

 

LOGISTICS:

Many issues were discussed; establishing a State contact System, Mass.

Caucus meeting rules (the Caucus meets daily in the early morning before the formal sessions of the R.A.), the NEA-RA Accountability system, the MTA Newsletter (produced daily for the

300 or so MTA delegates), social activities, procedures for the Mass.

delegation to deal with New Business Items (NBI's), etc.

There are usually about 8-9,000 delegates representing the 3.2 million NEA members from around the country, so a great many special procedures are used to deal with R.A. business.

 

The following information was presented for issues to be acted upon during the convention--that we know of so far.  It is possible for delegates and state caucuses at the R.A. to submit new business during the days of the convention.

 

PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT:

It has been reported in the general press, and was mentioned at the pre-convention meeting that the NEA Board will ask R.A. delegates to recommend endorsing Barak Obama for reelection.  The usual process would be to use the 2012 R.A. to endorse for the 2012 presidential election, but we were told that an earlier endorsement would be more useful.  Delegates will vote on whether to endorse Obama for the 2012 election.

 

NEA's LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:

It was reported to the Mass. Caucus that this has been rewritten by the NEA Legislative Committee on which an MTA member sits--Robert Gillies (from the Mass. Community College Council--MCCC, which is their faculty local).  No detailed information was presented on 8 June, but delegates will vote on accepting the new text.

 

DUES:

NEA dues for teachers/faculty, as well as ESP's (our category of membership) are based on a formula tied to the national average of salaries for each category.  Because of the economic problems resulting in static public wages, the ESP category will not have an increase based on that formula.  NEA dues make up part of the total dues we pay. However, the NEA Board (see By-Law Amendment # 3) is recommending a $10 assessment per year for five years for all NEA members to establish a ballot initiative fund that can be drawn upon by any state association that faces anti-public employee ballot questions. NEA has helped Mass. when we were faced with those in the past, as has several other state associations.  The delegates will be asked to approve this special assessment.

 

AMENDMENTS TO STANDING RULES (by which the 2011 R.A. will operate):

#1A: all NBI's contain a maker's statement of intent

#1: NBI texts may be edited to replace K-12 with Pre-K-12 under specific circumstances

#2: require written submissions before the maker of the motion is recognized to speak

#2A: require consideration of an amendment to be delayed until two additional items of business have been considered

3A: streamline submissions to Resolutions and allow amendments to new Resolutions to be submitted only up to noon of the second day of the R.A.

3: prohibit distribution of materials contrary to NEA Resolutions Delegates will be asked to adopt these changes to the Standing Rules.

 

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT:

#1: Change the requirement for 75 percent classroom teachers on NEA committees to a requirement of a range of 50 to 75 percent.

Delegates will be asked to approve this Constitutional Amendment.

 

BYLAW AMENDMENTS:

#1: require that NEA will not lobby for or against legislation regarding abortion

#2: require NEA Objectives be broad, overarching statements of purpose

#3: create a "Ballot Measure/Legislative Crisis and Media Campaign Fund" for

5 years (2011-2012 through 2015-2016) with a $10 assessment per year on all Active members (which would effect USA members).

Delegates will be asked to approve these Bylaw Amendments

 

NEW BUSINESS ITEMS (NBI):

#1: NEA file a federal lawsuit against all states that target "failing schools"

#2: NEA to work with state affiliates to "professionalize"

substitute teachers

#3: study electronic voting at RA's

#4: provide a running total of expenditures approved by NBI's to delegates

#5: provide an official clock in the RA's TV screens to monitor time allotted to speakers

#6: NEA work with other national organizations to analyze proposals for "performance based" and "value-added" teacher assessments Delegates will be asked to approve these, and many more that will be submitted during the R.A.

(occasionally the numbers of NBI's goes over 100).

 

RESOLUTIONS:

None were presented that would be considered at the R.A., because the NEA Resolutions Committee meets directly before the RA to craft their proposals.

 

NEA BUDGET AND STRATEGIC REPORT:

The 2010 RA approved a two year cycle for adopting NEA budgets.

The Delegates may be asked to approve any recommendations from the NEA Board.

 

 

There are many other events during the RA, such as guest speakers, etc.

There are hearings for Resolutions, By-Laws, Budget, Legislation, etc. that occur in the two days before the RA formally starts.  There are many interest caucuses that meet during the days of the RA, such as Early Childhood Development, Peace & Justice, ESP, Higher Education, etc.

Delegates can be very busy during the RA.

 

The following members are delegates from USA to the NEA Representative Assembly in Chicago from June 30 through July 5, 2011:

 

WILLIAM COLEMAN:         Regional Delegate (from U.S.A.), U.M. Worcester Ext.Serv. 

wsc3@nutrition.umass.edu,  508-831-1223 x 238

 

LINDA FISH:         local U. S. A. delegate               DuBois Library

lfish@library.umass.edu,  577-0482

 

DONNA JOHNSON:         local U. S. A. delegate         % U.S.A. Office

djohnson@english.umass.edu,  545-4862 

 

DAVID LITTERER:        local U. S. A. delegate         Recreation Ctr.

litterer@admin.umass.edu,  545-0022

 

LESLIE MARSLAND:         local U. S. A. delegate         University Health Services

lmarsland@uhs.umass.edu,  577-5038

 

FRANK OLBRIS:       local U. S. A. delegate         Central Mail, Goodell Bldg.

olbris@admin.umass.edu,  545-3158

 

DEBRA WARNER:       local U. S. A. delegate         University Health Services

dwarner@uhs.umass.edu,  577-5220