President's Corner by Donna Johnson

Dear USA Members,

Congratulations! Another academic year is over, and we all survived. I know you are not often told this, but thank you all for the hard work you do.

As the warm weather approaches and we start dreaming of taking our vacations (well deserved), I would like to ask all of you to take some time to consider working with me on our legislative committee. This committee is important to the USA and we need to do a better job at this. When we were trying to get our contracts funded, it was made abundantly clear to me that having continuous contact with our legislators is vital to our mission. Working together is important on so many levels, for budget funding, for higher ed issues-and in the distant future it will be very important to get the reclassification issues dealt with. Laying a permanent foundation with our legislators can only move our agenda forward in a positive manner. Understanding our issues, and in some cases theirs, is a link that we have been missing. This committee would not require a large time commitment on anyone's part. Initially we will need to meet, perhaps have some training, and then as a committee, we can decide exactly what is needed. I really need your help, and if you think that you would like to give this committee a try please contact me at 545-5459 or at djohnson@english.umass.edu. I would love an opportunity to work with you on our issues.

If you have any questions or concerns about your job, please contact your district steward or call me directly. Together we can work to safeguard all workers rights on campus. Please watch your mail and the list serv for updates about the contract bargaining that is in process and make every effort to attend the membership meetings where we can give a more comprehensive overview of the proposals. I hope that you all have a safe summer and that you get a chance to get some time off to relax.

In solidarity,

Donna Johnson

MTA Annual Meeting 2007
by Sylvia Snape

The following U.S.A. Members, thanks to your votes last April, attended Annual Meeting on

May 10th and 11th in Boston: Jane Litwin-Taylor, Dave Korowski, Leslie Marsland, Frank Olbris,

Linda Fish, Pat Hardnett, Dave Litterer, Patricia Link, Linda Merritt, Karen Markham, Deb Warner,

and Linda Hillenbrand. USA President, Donna Johnson and Membership Secretary, Sylvia Snape, also attended as Directors of MTA. The meeting went very smoothly, and Frank Olbris proposed a new business item, Support for Single Payer Health Care.

The FY'08 budget was passed, including a small dues increase.

New Business Items of particular interest to U.S.A. members were adopted by the delegates:

Crisis in Iraq

Support for Single Payer Health Care

Study on Converting MTA Today to Web-based, Emailed and Web-Accessed Version

Review Current Dues Structure for ESPs

A Resolution to Guarantee Student Privacy Rights in Regard to Military Recruitment

Other new business items were voted on which are detailed online at Annual Meeting Highlights: http://www.massteacher.org/news/headlines/headlines_2007-05-11.cfm

Most of the U.S.A. delegates enjoyed dinner together at Vinnie T's on Friday night.

Please consider nominating yourself or someone you work with to be a delegate next year. Elections will be held in February or March '08. It's a good way to volunteer a bit of your time and have some fun in the bargain. This exposure to the democratic workings of MTA helps us understand our part in the big picture, as well as some understanding of what MTA can offer us.

Sylvia Snape

MTA District Director

U.S.A. Membership Secretary

Chair of Stewards Council