Coronavirus and Schools

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Name one resource/support that state officials need to provide so that learning is more effective for our students during the pandemic.

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Are you safe at school?

Use our new tracking tool to document and/or report on cases of COVID-19 at your school or college.

FIND YOUR SCHOOL OR COLLEGE

Urge the Baker administration to work with unions on vaccine rollout

The governor's updated distribution plan will postpone vaccination of educators by several weeks.

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Unions propose rapid vaccination plan for educators

In a letter sent to state Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders on Feb. 10, Massachusetts’ two statewide teachers unions, along with the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, and other labor organizations, asked the state to support a pilot program of a rapid vaccination plan for school employees in 10 to 20 high-need school districts this month.

The Last Mile Vaccine Delivery Proposal, which is currently before the state Department of Public Health, was designed by Mascon Medical, the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, the MTA, and AFT

Najimy: Reopening plan shows ‘callous disregard’ for schools, communities

The following statement was released by MTA President Merrie Najimy in response to the Baker-Riley school reopening announcement on Feb. 23.

The state’s plan to fully reopen most schools in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic shows callous disregard for the health and safety of school employees, students and families and rides roughshod over the rights and interests of local communities.

Governor Charlie Baker and Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley should go back to the drawing board. This time they must actually talk to the educators, educators’ unions, parents, school committee members and other community leaders most impacted by their surprise and unwelcome announcement, which seems timed largely to distract public attention from the administration’s failed vaccine rollout.

Legal Help

Get answers to frequently asked questions related to COVID-19 from the MTA's Legal Division.

Health and Safety Resources

A Guide for Bargaining the Safe Return to Schools and Campuses

Policies and practices for a safe return to our schools and campuses.

Building Safety Checklist

A list of preparations to incorporate with your local association's building safety plan.

Bargaining and Online Resources for MTA Members

Resources and tools for bargaining health and safety conditions.

Information Request/Demand to Bargain

Request form based on MGL ch. 150E.

Are you safe at work? New tool helps educators track, report COVID-19 cases

A new tracking tool is now available to help educators document cases of COVID-19 at work.

The tracker, available at stopthespread.massteacher.org, allows educators to:

Search for known and suspected cases of COVID-19 at their public school, college or workplace
Report on safety conditions at their school, college or worksite
Share the experience of working in public education during the coronavirus pandemic

The tracker, developed by the MTA and AFT Massachusetts, is designed to give local associations, members and their families useful information as well as hold our elected officials accountable.

Find Your Workplace

Educators rally for safe learning conditions

Several hundred educators gathered outside the State House today chanting and cheering for a safe return to learning. “Stand up! Fight Back!” was one of the rallying cries as members of the MTA, AFT Massachusetts and the Boston Teachers Union — along with supporters from other unions and community allies — demanded that the governor require all school districts to open remotely until health and safety measures are met.

“Our members are longing to get back to in-person teaching and learning, and students are longing to see their educators and friends in person,” said MTA President Merrie Najimy. “But our greatest obligation as educators is to protect the health and safety of our students as we educate them."

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ONly when it's safe

Higher education rallies target layoffs, cuts

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Students, staff and faculty members who are fighting back against budget cuts at public colleges and universities rallied on campuses across the state, drawing attention to the devastating loss of personnel and programs.

“When they talk about cutting staff, like student life counselors and librarians, and call them nonessential, I need to speak up,” public higher education graduate Melody Rondeau told the crowd during a rally at Bristol Community College in Fall River.

Rondeau said she dropped out of high school and after six years decided that she needed to resume her education. She enrolled at Massasoit Community College, where she received the kind of support necessary to help a nontraditional student such as herself succeed.