Challenges to Collective Bargaining

Subject: Preserving Collective Bargaining

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

As an educator, I am very proud of our public school students who continue to rank #1 in the country on national tests. That's why I urge you to vote against three bills that would undermine the success we've had in our Commonwealth: H. 4163, H. 4164, and H. 4166.

House No. 4163 would lift the cap on charter schools in high-poverty districts, taking scarce resources away from the kids who are most in need of smaller classes, individual attention, and school services.

House No. 4164, the so-called readiness school proposal, would strip educators of their voice in decision making, threaten collective bargaining rights, and undermine the collaboration that has led to high student achievement here in Massachusetts.

House No. 4166, the so-called in-district charter school bill, also attacks collective bargaining rights. It allows superintendents to fire teachers without due process, terminate union contracts, and impose unproven pay-for-test-score plans on school staff.

Massachusetts public school students are already #1 in the nation, and are among the top performers in the world. Please reject these ill-conceived proposals that will harm our schools, educators, and students. Let's focus instead on making sure that all our schools have the necessary resources and right conditions to make the best even better.