Category: Recent News

For 117 years, The University League of Madison Wisconsin has provided opportunities for people with similar interests to get together to learn, share information and form lasting friendships through interest groups, volunteer groups, social gatherings and scholarship benefits. The organization has given more than $150,000 annually for UW-Madison student scholarships via their 501 (c ) (3) non-profit organization.

The current president Theresa Calderon is a retired MTI member and retired MMSD administrator. President-elect Barbara Rogers is a MTI-retired member.

The University League welcomes all who are interested to become members. One does not need to be UW Alumni or have any other affiliation with the University Systems to become a member of the University League.

For more information about the University League, its activities and membership click here!

September 3

Noon to 5:30

Madison Labor Temple

1602 South Park Street

Live Music

Bounce House

Caricature Artist

Face Painting

Balloons

Silent Auction 

Collection for Homeless Students (click here for more info)

Click here for a Labor Fest 2018 Flyer

Attention MTI Members!

Steve Pike is a retired MTI teacher and current Member Benefits Consultant for WEA Member Benefits.  Steve will be onsite at MTI to meet with staff.

WHAT:  FREE Financial Consultation

WHEN:  August 13, 15, 20, 21, 22, and 23 (register by clicking on the August link below)

                   September 17, 18, 24 and 26 (register by clicking on the September link below)

Sign up here for your August consultation

Sign up here for your September consultation

WHERE:  33 Nob Hill Road, Madison, WI

This is ideal if you are just getting started, have specific questions, or would like a quick check-in.  Because these are held onsite at MTI, it’s a convenient way to meet with someone face-to-face to get some general help or guidance.

Steve can answer your specific questions on a wide range of financial topics such as:

• Reasons to start a 403(b) or IRA savings accountand how to enroll
• Wisconsin Retirement System basics
• Retirement Savings strategies; Pre-tax vs. Roth, 403(b) vs. IRA
• Investment/Account Fees
• Budgeting
• Tips for purchasing personal insurance

Some things to bring along to your consultation include:

• Recent paycheck stub
• Recent 403(b) and/or IRA account statements
• WRS statement
• Other financial information you would like reviewed

Spouses/partners welcome.

Can’t make it to a consultation but want to talk to someone? Sign up for a 30-minute phone consultation and speak to a Retirement and Investment Consultant. Find a time and day that’s convenient for you at www.weabenefits.com/consults.

The No Fear All Fun Run group is hosting its first annual 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at Lake Farm County Park in Madison, WI.  It is a family-friendly event open to all age groups and abilities.  Joe and Sherri Neill (with the help of family, the school community, great coaches and wonderful friends) are organizing the event as a way to honor their son, Michael Neill, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident two days before the 2017-18 school year began.  Michael enjoyed helping younger kids and helping new runners.  This event will benefit the Sennett and Whitehorse Middle School Running Clubs.

Race Date: Saturday, August 11, 2018

Race Time: Registration Packet Pick Up 8:00am, Race Starts at 9:00am

Race Location: Lake Farm County Park, 3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison, WI 53711

Registration: Click here

Website: Click here

T-Shirts: Includes race name, event logo & year.  T-Shirts available in green with sponsors listed on back.

Click here for a flyer!     Click here for a Sponsor Form!

Last spring, MTI surveyed members and found strong interest in a proposal from the Foundation for Madison’s Public Schools to build a crowdfunding platform to connect Madison teachers with financial resources.  The Foundation is now looking for a team of Madison teachers to help test the platform and provide feedback.  See the message below and contact Melinda Heinritz, Executive Director of FMPS, if interested or in need of additional information (mheinritz@fmps.org) or 232-7820.

“We need your help!  The Foundation for Madison’s PublicSchools is building a crowdfunding platform just for you, thanks to the generous support of Total Administrative Services Corporation (TASC).  TASC has asked us to recruit a group of 6-8 teachers to test the platform during our design phase.  We’re looking for teachers with no experience using crowdfunding, with lots of experience, and everything in between.  TASC will pay you for your time, and some of the testing can happen at your home.  We’k like to bring the group together later this summer.  With your help, we’ll ensure that the platform meets your needs and is easy to use.  The Foundation is honored to support you and your classrooms, and we will promote our crowdfunding program to the greater Madison community on a consistent basis.  Thank you for your consideration!”

MTI members are encouraged to attend the annual Back to School Celebration and Backpack Stuffing party hosted by 100 Black Men of Madison, Inc.

During 2018, the Back to School Celebration will endeavor to provide school supplies and this year, “vital services and exposures” to more than 2000 economically disadvantaged youth and their families.

Thursday, August 9, 2018 from 4 to 6pm

Madison College – Truax Campus

1701 Wright Street Madison, WI

Register here!

Last month, the 2018-19 MTI Collective Bargaining Agreements with the MMSD were ratified by the membership of MTI, as well as the Board of Education.  The agreement was the result of your hard work and that of your union brothers and sisters and provides a 2.13% cost-of-living increase effective July 1, 2018.

• When bargaining commenced, the District budgeted for only a 0.5% base-wage increase while MTI pushed for a 2.13% cost-of-living increase.
• To support the Union’s demands, MTI organized a Cost-of-Living Contract Campaign that included MTI members, allies and community supporters lobbying the Board of Education, culminating in hundreds of MTI members packing and testifying at Board of Education meetings in April and May.
• Two mediation sessions then followed with MTI’s Teacher, ESEA and USO bargaining teams meeting in joint sessions, reaching agreement on June 4 on 2.13% cost-of-living increase.
• The 2.13% base-wage increase is in addition to the scheduled step increases employees receive pursuant to the salary schedules first negotiated by MTI which continue in the MMSD Employee Handbook.  Between the base-wage increase and annual step increases, the “average” MTI-represented employee will receive approximately a 4% increase in pay for 2018-19.
• Compared to the District’s initial 0.5% proposal, the “average” teacher will receive approximately $900 more in pay next school year with the District investing an additional $2.5 million in employee salaries due to MTI’s bargaining efforts.
• These increases are a direct result of the efforts of hundreds of organized, active and engaged MTI members.

Yesterday, the US Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled against public sector unions nationwide.  In Janus v. AFSCME the court ruled that fair share agreements are unconstitutional, overturning a 1977 Supreme Court ruling that has stood as precedent on this issue since that time.  While this is bad news for public sector unions across the country, this decision has no direct impact on Wisconsin as these fair share agreements were abolished here with the passage of Act 10.

We can expect a well-funded, dark money, national campaign encouraging union member to drop union membership following the decision.  We can also anticipate short-term reductions in NEA membership and NEA resources as adjustments are made to deal with this coming change.

That said, MTI provides a shining example of how a union can maintain strength and membership in the absence not only of fair-share agreements, but also with severe prohibitions on collective bargaining.

We have been sharing that story with our brothers and sisters across the country – from Seattle to St. Paul to Massachusetts – as they prepare for their post-Janus reality.  Our sisters and brothers will need to continue to hear that message of hope and renewal in the coming months.

What we have learned from our response to Act 10, as well as the teacher strike wave across the country, is that laws do not determine the limits of our collective possibilities, we do.

Click here for NEA’s response to the decision.

MTI is a member-led Union built on the core belief that an active and involved membership, led by democratically-elected leaders and supported by highly-qualified staff, can best promote the interests of public education, the education profession, and the members of the Union.

The MTI Faculty Representative is a critical position in fulfilling this mission.  Every school/work location should have a team of MTI Faculty Reps working together to represent their colleagues and build their Union.  Schools and work sites are entitled to one (1) Faculty Rep for every fifteen (15) Union members at the school or worksite.

MTI Faculty Reps build solidarity and promote union membership at their work location and work to resolve building-based problems with building principals in a Collborative Problem Solving process encouraged and supported by MTI and the MMSD.  Faculty Reps also serve to unite teachers across the District, bringing the concerns and interests of MTI members at their work location with MTI members district-wide via the MTI Faculty Representative Council, the policy forming body of the MTI teacher unit.

If you are interested in advocating for your profession, building your Union, representing yoru colleagues, and being a part of making positive change, send an email to MTI@madisonteachers.org or contact your Senior MTI Faculty Rep to let them know you would like to be nominated for one of the Faculty Rep positions at your school/work site.

See this link for additional information.

Teachers in Oklahoma and Kentucky Walk Out: ‘It Really Is a Wildfire.’

West Virginia, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Arizona teachers and support staff across the nation are “wearing red for public ed,” standing up and walking out for their students and their profession.  Years of austerity budgets, underfunded classrooms, increasing class sizes, stagnant wages, pension attacks, and failed political leadership have fueled the protests.

MTI stands with striking teachers everywhere and anywhere, and has relayed our message of solidarity to the educators in West Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Arizona.  Join the #RedforEd movement, wear your MTI Solidarity shirt every Monday, and show your solidarity with your sisters and brothers here and around the country.  If you are in need of an MTI solidarity shirt, click here to order.